Podgorica, (MINA) – Romania and Montenegro will continue to work together as partners and steadfast advocates of the Western Balkans, which is firmly and irreversibly anchored in the EU, said foreign ministers of Romania and Montenegro, Oana Toiu and Ervin Ibrahimovic.

In the joint opinion piece, marking 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Toiu and Ibrahimovic stated that Romania would continue to support Montenegro on its path to the EU, as a reliable and sincere partner.

Toiu and Ibrahimovic emphasized that Romania has been a consistent and strong partner to Montenegro on its path to NATO, as well as in the realization of its European aspirations.

“EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighborhood is not only a political promise, but a strategic necessity for our common security and an opportunity for prosperity and a stronger, more resilient Europe”, said Toiu and Ibrahimović.

According to them, the path to EU membership is not easy, as it requires demanding reforms, political compromise and continuous efforts, as well as a lasting commitment to strengthening democratic resilience to anti-European disinformation, hybrid threats and attempts at manipulation.

They assessed that Montenegro has proven its commitment to this path.

“Given Montenegro’s goal of becoming an EU member by 2028, we are ready to continue providing support and sharing Romania’s experience in the accession process”, the authors stated in the text.