President of the Riigikogu assured Montenegro of support in the EU accession process

At the meeting with President of the Parliament of Montenegro Aleksa Bečić, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas emphasised that Estonia supported Montenegro’s aspirations to become a member of the European Union.  

The discussion at the meeting of the Presidents of Parliaments focused on mapping the possibilities for future cooperation between Estonia and Montenegro, on allied relations in NATO and Estonia’s support to Montenegro in the accession process with the European Union. “During the years after gaining independence, Montenegro has built up a well-functioning society and achieved international trust,” Ratas said. “Estonia, who was first country to establish diplomatic relations with Montenegro and ratified the association agreement, supports Montenegro’s aspirations to become a member of the European Union.”

Besides the opportunities for bilateral cooperation in digital and cyber sectors, exchanging of experience in the education sector and strengthening the communication between parliamentary committees were spoken about as well.

The President of the Riigikogu acknowledged Montenegro’s contribution to the work of the Cooperative Cyber Centre of Excellence and its participation in the Enhanced Forward Presence of the NATO allies in Latvia.

Enlargement of the European Union and the global developments affecting it were spoken about at the meeting with President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović. The President thanked Estonia for support and wished the cooperation would become closer bilaterally as well as in the framework of the enlargement of NATO and the European Union.

In the afternoon, the President of the Riigikogu opened the Honorary Consulate of Estonia, where Tomislav Čelebić is the Honorary Consul. Ratas underlined in his speech that Honorary Consuls were invaluable partners in introducing Estonia, assisting Estonian citizens and conducting business diplomacy activities: finding partners for Estonian companies or communicating with potential investors.

The President of the Riigikogu is accompanied on the visit by members of the Riigikogu Sven Sester and Kalvi Kõva. The Estonian delegation also met with Prime Minister of Montenegro Zdravko Krivokapić, with whom the situation in West Balkan was discussed.

Photos of the visit (Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Source: Parliament of Estonia