EU-beslissing over EU-kandidaat status Montenegro valt in November (en)

The enlargement process of the European Union in the Western Balkans is "a priority and a commitment" of the Spanish Presidency, and will be for the Trio, according to the Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, Diego Lopez Garrido, following a meeting of the EU-Montenegro Association Council in which November was considered as a date for a decision on whether the Balkan country is to be granted candidate status for membership.

The EU-Montenegro Association and Stabilisation Council met for the first time on Monday in Luxembourg, in order to review the Balkan country's compliance with the economic and political criteria for membership, said Lopez Garrido.

The EU side was pleased by the confirmation of progress in the political arena, particularly with elections held in March 2009 and the treatment of minorities, although improvements must be made in the situation of Roma people and in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

It also valued positively "the role of Montenegro" in supporting regional co-operation and stabilisation," said Garrido, who added that the recent conference in Sarajevo was a step forward for relations between the EU and the Balkans.

López Garrido chaired the meeting on behalf of the High Representative, Catherine Ashton i; Montenegro was represented by its Foreign Minister, Milan Rocen, and the Commission by its Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fuele.

Rocen said that in the meeting "views were exchanged on the pre-accession strategy." He stated that "after hearing all of Lopez Garrido's assessments, we can only say that we do not take this as criticism; we see the EU as an ally in the achievement of goals."

Fuele confirmed that "the intention of the Commission is to present its opinion on the candidacies of Montenegro and Albania simultaneously" and that it expects to do so in November.

"The enlargement process is not a race, as all partners in the region are involved," said Fuel. The Montenegrin Minister added that the important thing is that "we can all keep moving forward ... we Western Balkan countries are neighbours and nobody in either the EU or elsewhere in the world will take us seriously if we can not have good neighbourly relations.