Ireland believes that “all European countries should have the opportunity to join the European Union”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said following a meeting with the president of Montenegro.
Martin stressed the Government’s support for Montenegro’s accession as soon as it has met the necessary criteria, and promised to assist the country to achieve its goals during the Irish presidency of the EU in the second half of this year.
The Taoiseach met the president of Montenegro, Jakov Milatovic, at Government Buildings on Wednesday afternoon.
Milatovic said he hoped Montenegro could become a full member of the EU as early as 2028.
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Martin said “enlarging” the EU was the best foreign policy tool it had to ensure the “security and prosperity of our continent”.
“We are well aware of malign influences seeking to destabilise toward the western Balkans, and, indeed, the eastern neighbourhood. The accession of new member states would provide stability for us all,” he said.
“Some candidate countries have been in the European Union accession process for almost 20 years. We cannot take for granted these long held aspirations for European Union membership. We have a generational opportunity now before us.”
The Fianna Fáil leader said the people of Montenegro have “put the hard yards in, implementing the necessary reforms”.
“I believe that the European Union, then, must match your ambition, hard work and political leadership,” he said.
“During our meeting today, I assured president Milatovic that Ireland will do everything in our power and capacity, working with the European Commission and the member states to advance Montenegro’s European Union accession negotiations during our presidency of the European Union.”
Milatovic said he wanted to be “very clear” and that it was his country’s intention to be a full member of the EU by 2028.
“We are grateful, indeed, for Ireland’s principled support, and for its readiness, to stand firmly behind the merit based enlargement process,” he added.
