Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed Montenegro’s Prime Minister, Duško Marković, with military honours at the Federal Chancellery. At their joint press conference, she pointed back to a number of recent meetings with her counterpart within the scope of various EU conference formats. She described the meeting in Berlin as "talks between friends".

Fighting illegal migration

Within the framework of the discussion of current issues, migration was one of the topics on the agenda. Angela Merkel thanked Duško Marković for the constructive role played by Montenegro in the refugee crisis. Both countries, she reported, are interested in addressing illegal migration together, and better protecting the external borders of the European Union.

The Western Balkans – a key region

At their meeting, alongside their good bilateral relations, Angela Merkel and Duško Marković discussed primarily the situation in the Western Balkans. The aim, said the Chancellor, is to resolve all regional conflicts in future and explore the possibilities of peaceful cooperation within the European Union. The linchpin in this context is the territorial integrity of individual states.

Germany fully understands the problems and the needs of Montenegro. His country is a key partner for the entire region, reaffirmed Duško Marković. "We are grateful to Germany, and quite particularly to the Chancellor, for forging ahead with the Berlin Process. This Process has enhanced our European vision and our European perspective," he continued. It has helped Montenegro and the region as a whole to become more independent, and to build their own capacities and capabilities.

In EU policies, the Western Balkans is the term used to describe the successor states to the former Yugoslavia, plus Albania. It does not include states that have already joined the EU, i.e. Croatia and Slovenia. The Western Balkans thus comprises Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

Focus on the rule of law

Rule-of-law issues are of paramount importance in Montenegro’s accession negotiations with the European Union. This is the issue that will determine the overall course of negotiations, said the Chancellor. Prime Minister Duško Marković gave his assurances that standards will be respected regarding the development of the political system.

Montenegro leads the group in terms of meeting the accession chapter provisions, said Angela Merkel. But it could still do more to address corruption, and foster the rule of law and freedom of the press. Germany will stand shoulder to shoulder with Montenegro to realise rule-of-law principles and in efforts to stamp out corruption. "We will help wherever we can," she stressed. In the final analysis, what is important in the accession process is not the size of the individual states, but that each state meet the criteria, explained the Chancellor.

German and European policies vis à vis Montenegro focus on support for political and economic reforms within the framework of EU accession negotiations. Montenegro has been a candidate country since December 2010. Accession negotiations were opened on 29 June 2012. Germany is involved in a number of bilateral cooperation projects and in measures within the scope of the EU. In 2017 Montenegro became the 29th nation to join NATO.