We are very satisfied with the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, said Montenegrin Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanović at a meeting with Speaker of Parliament Tsveta Karayancheva.

Bulgaria placed the European integration of the Western Balkans at the centre of its presidency, and this is very important for Montenegro, emphasised the Foreign Minister. He said that his country had already opened 30 negotiation chapters and was likely to be prepared for EU accession before 2025. Srdjan Darmanović highly praised the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. I am confident that Bulgaria will be very active in the European inter-parliamentary process, he said.

Speaker of Parliament Tsveta Karayancheva said that there was good communication between the parliaments of the two countries. Bulgaria and Montenegro are friendly nations, and there are no unresolved issues between them, she emphasised. Tsveta Karayancheva said that as a EU member state, Bulgaria was prepared to help Montenegro with regard to legislation and other initiatives. She mentioned the importance of the EU-Western Balkans Summit on 17 May in Sofia. Our wish is that the Western Balkans will continue to be a priority after the Bulgarian Presidency, said the Speaker of Parliament. Tsveta Karayancheva said that the two countries had a potential to develop their economic relations, tourism being one of the areas of mutual interest.

Chair of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of European Funds Kristian Vigenin and Chair of the Bulgaria-Montenegro Friendship Group Peter Petrov met with Montenegrin Foreign Minister Prof. Srdjan Darmanović. Vigenin emphasised the role of national parliaments in the integration process in view of their influence on the views of individual member states on the enlargement policy. He explained to the delegation about the preparation of the COSAC plenary meeting, scheduled in June. Among the important topics and political resolutions that will be discussed at the meeting will be the future of the Western Balkans countries and connectivity as a new impetus in the enlargement policy. We appreciate your courage to implement the necessary reforms with resolution, Kristian Vigenin addressed Prof. Srdjan Darmanović. I am very happy that your presidency placed a focus on the Western Balkans, said Montenegrin Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanović.

Chair of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Dzhema Gorzdanova met with Montenegrin Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanović. “Bulgaria welcomes Montenegro’s undeniable progress in the negotiation process for EU accession. I am confident that Montenegro has a potential to fulfil the criteria for membership within the indicative time frame 2025, set by the Commission, and even before that”, emphasised Dzhema Grozdanova. She said that a month before, a delegation of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee, led by her, had had a fruitful visit to Montenegro at the invitation of Andrija Nikolić, Chair of Montenegro’s parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Emigration.

Montenegrin Foreign Minister Darmanović thanked Dzhema Grozdanova, Chair of the Foreign Policy Committee, for the support and expressed his confidence that the enhanced parliamentary cooperation between the two committees would continue, also involving an exchange of experts.