Italy percieves Montenegro as the key country for the future of the Balkans and Europe, Senator Lodovico Sonego concluded at the joint meeting with the Committee on International Relations and Emigrants, Committee on European Integration and the Friendship Group with the Parliament of Italy.
Chairperson of the Committee on International Relations and Emigrants, Mr Andrija Nikolić, pointed out that Montenegro's membership in the European Union, as a key state priority, was recognised by the new European Commission's strategy as a reality, which additionally encouraged but also binded on the path to reform agenda, rule of law, cultural and social emancipation and overall improvement of the standard of living of Montenegrin citizens. Mr Nikolić emphasised the importance of Italy's powerful investment presence in Montenegro, as a dominant partner country and one of the most important foreign trade partners.
Senator Sonego referred to the European Union's Enlargement Strategy with the Western Balkans, which, in his opinion, valued all the efforts Western Balkan countries have made on the EU accession path, that placed Montenegro as a positive example.
Sonego pointed out as well that Europe must be more engaged with regard to the integration process of the Western Balkan countries, with a higher level of infrastructure investment, as a fundamental precondition for better connection and prosperity of the region.
Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration, Mr Adrijan Vuksanović, referred to the the fact that excellent parliamentary relations were strengthened with the signing of the Protocol on Cooperation last March between the Committee on European Integration and the Italian Senate EU Policies Committee. He added that the Protocol has already become concretised with the organisation of an official visit of the delegation of the Committee to Rome in December, and its particular value would be in part of the exchange of information and the realisation of common values of interest of the two committees at the multilateral European forums. On the occasion of the European Commission's Strategy for the Western Balkans, Mr Vuksanović said that this document has been percieved as a strong support to the European aspirations of Montenegro and the confirmation that all countries in the region would progress in accordance with the achieved results.
Beside the chairpersons of the two committees, the meeting was attended by members: Ms Nada Drobnjak, Mr Halil Duković, Mr Miloš Nikolić, Mr Ervin Ibrahimović, as well as members of the Friendship Group, Ms Sanja Pavićević and Mr Mirsad Murić. MPs jointly expressed satisfaction with the friendly relations between Montenegro and Italy, high-quality on-going projects, as well as potentials of improving cooperation in number of areas. Particular attention was paid to ecology and environment, human rights and energy issues.
The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Montenegro, H.E. Mr Vincenzo Del Monaco.
