Podgorica, 9 June 2017 – European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn paid an official visit to Montenegro, where he met with Montenegro’s officials and visited the construction site of a milestone energy connectivity project.
In a statement following the visit of the Lastva Sub-Station of the Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor – a major Connectivity Agenda project helping connect Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Italy – Mr Hahn underlined that this project is a vital part of the creation of the regional electricity market and ‘the embodiment of a strategic investment of regional and pan-European significance.’
Commissioner Hahn said that the Lastva station is a strategic investment for Montenegro, the Western Balkans, and the EU energy grid and security of energy supply. He noted the EU has donated €25 million for the project, which will trigger the investments of €127 million, and thanked project partners and Montenegro for their contribution. Mr Hahn said he was confident that the Trieste Western Balkans Summit in mid-July will strengthen the Connectivity Agenda and deliver further tangible results.
Following his meeting with Prime Minister of Montenegro Dusko Markovic, Commissioner Hahn said Montenegro is the most advanced country on the EU integration path, commending the steady progress achieved over the past years. He underlined the importance of keeping the momentum, including by advancing rule of law, pursuing fiscal consolidation, and contributing to further regional economic integration.
In his meeting with Parliament Speaker Ivan Brajovic, Commissioner Hahn emphasised that political dialogue is crucial for the transformation of Montenegro, stressing that parliamentary boycott is not the European way of dealing with disagreements.
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