Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević took part in a panel in Brussels entitled “Building Strong International Partnerships through the EU Budget”, held as part of the Annual European Union Budget Conference. During the panel, which brought together representatives of the European Commission, the World Bank and academia, Gorčević stressed that Montenegro’s inclusion in the European Union’s future budgetary framework is a clear signal that European institutions see Montenegro as the EU’s next member.
“Montenegro’s progress in the accession negotiations has been accompanied by clear political signals from the European Union. Everything we have witnessed in recent days and months shows that the EU recognises the results we are achieving and that everyone is preparing for our membership. The key question is how we will turn all of this into tangible benefits for our citizens. Our European path must result in a better and fairer life for the citizens of Montenegro,” Gorčević said.
Gorčević recalled that Montenegro has demonstrated its ability to make effective use of European funds. Since 2016, around €930 million has been drawn from European funds, with more than half of this amount received over the past three years.
“This is the result of intensifying the accession negotiations, strengthening administrative capacities, improving the quality of project preparation and enhancing the ability of institutions to turn funds into tangible benefits for citizens,” Gorčević said.
The Minister emphasised that pre-accession funding plays an important role in implementing reforms. However, as she noted, it is equally important that Montenegro has, throughout these years, worked to build a system capable of using these funds efficiently and responsibly, strengthening institutions, adopting European standards and preparing the country to assume all the rights and obligations that EU membership entails.
“Pre-accession funding can help us prepare projects and strengthen institutions, but the full development potential will be realised through membership and access to significantly stronger European funds. That is why it is important that we build capacities and prepare projects already now,” Gorčević said.
Speaking about possible safeguard mechanisms in the accession process, she stressed that Montenegro’s goal is full membership in the European Union.
“Montenegro aspires to full membership, with all the rights, obligations and responsibilities that it entails. We will continue to advance on the basis of results and demonstrate that we are ready to be a reliable and equal Member State,” Gorčević said.