BELGRADE, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Montenegro is 100 percent harmonized with EU when it comes to foreign policy, high representative of the European Union (EU) for foreign affairs and the security policy Federica Mogherini said after a talk with Prime Minister of Montenegro Dusko Markovic on Thursday.
Mogherini and Markovic met at the city of Tivat, Montenegro, where they discussed the results of a recent European Commission report that recognizes the country as the leader in the integration process in the Western Balkans.
According to the press release after the meeting, Mogherini commended consistency of Montenegro's interior and foreign policy, in relation to the country's European integration process and said that "this shows that we truly are on the same side both in our analysis and our diplomatic activities which is immensely important in these turbulent times".
Mogherini highlighted that "the doors of the European union" are open for Montenegro, and that the recently adopted strategy for the Western Balkans confirms it.
"We can see some encouraging progress in different areas that have impact on improvement of the living standard of citizens, but Montenegro must make progress in the field of rule of law and freedom of the media," Mogherini stressed.
Markovic reminded that the latest European Commission report on Western Balkans acknowledged Montenegrin progress in European integration, and suggested ways to advance it even further.
"I wish to assure you that we have spotted the lacks and weaknesses ourselves, and that a special government session was held in the beginning of the year in order to find a way to tackle those issues," Markovic said.
He expressed hope that Montenegro will open remaining three chapters of the EU acquis by the end of this year and will fulfill all EU recommendations for Chapters 23 and 24 that deal with the rule of law and judiciary.
He said that European future of the Western Balkans is now certain and that candidate countries need to implement their obligations in cooperation with the EU, in order to create precondition for their full membership.
Markovic and Mogherini agreed that the country is making good progress in the process of the European integration and continues to represent a leader in the region in that regard.
Mogherini's Balkan tour that started on April 17 has taken her to Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro, and will conclude in Serbia this evening.
