Laatste dag Deens Voorzitterschap: start toetredingsonderhandelingen met Montenegro (en)

Nicolai Wammen is in Brussels today to open EU accession negotiations with Montenegro.

On behalf of the EU Presidency Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen opens accession negotiations with Montenegro at an accession conference in Brussels today. This is done on the last working day of the Danish EU Presidency, after the EU earlier this week concluded that Montenegro has carried out the reforms required for opening. The accession negotiations will take place with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle i and Montenegro's Foreign Minister and Minister for European Affairs Milan Rocen.

The Danish Minister for European Affairs says:

"The opening of accession negotiations is based on Montenegro's strong EU commitment. Several important reforms have been carried out in a short period. There are still many challenges - particularly concerning corruption and organised crime - but this can now be much more effectively addressed within the context of the accession negotiations. The Danish EU Presidency has given high priority to the Western Balkans. During the Danish EU Presidency we have now achieved two important steps forward with respect to the Western Balkans' EU integration: EU candidate status to Serbia on the 1st of March and the opening of accession negotiations with Montenegro here at this last working day of the Presidency."

Contact

Marie Foltmann, Special Advisor for the Minister of European Affairs on +45 4173 3893