Ivanović in Ireland: Strengthening support for Montenegro’s European path

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović held a series of meetings with Irish institutional representatives during his visit to Dublin, focusing on Montenegro's European perspective and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

At the meeting with Barry Ward, Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, and members of the Committee, strong support for the EU enlargement policy was expressed, with the assessment that Montenegro holds a frontrunner position in the European integration process. Committee members emphasized that enlargement sends a clear message of unity, which represents the greatest strength of the European Union, and underlined the importance of demonstrating that the integration of candidate countries is genuinely advancing. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović thanked Ireland for its continuous support and highlighted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a key aspect of advancing the European agenda, while also informing Committee members about Montenegro's achievements and challenges in the accession process. The Committee members confirmed their readiness to contribute to further strengthening this process.

During his meeting with Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne, Ivanović outlined the dynamics of Montenegro's accession negotiations, stressing that European integration remains the absolute priority of the country's foreign policy. Minister Byrne underlined that enlargement will be a top priority of Ireland during its Presidency of the Council of the EU, expressing his expectation that Montenegro will successfully complete its negotiations by then. The interlocutors also exchanged views on current regional and global developments, with Minister Byrne reaffirming that Montenegro can count on Ireland's consistent support in the upcoming phases of the accession process.

Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović also met with Attorney General of Ireland, Rossa Fanning, with whom he discussed the role and responsibilities of this institution within the Irish judicial system. Ivanović presented Montenegro's efforts in strengthening the rule of law, emphasizing the Government's goal of improving the efficiency and quality of judicial institutions. He noted that the exchange of experience and expertise would be of great value in implementing reforms, while Attorney General Fanning expressed readiness to contribute to enhanced judicial cooperation within the wider European context.

As part of the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović met with members of the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), where he delivered a presentation on Montenegro's European path and participated in a Q&A session. The event was attended not only by Institute members but also by representatives of the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic corps, including the Ambassadors of Italy and Croatia to Ireland. In his remarks, Ivanović briefed participants on Montenegro's progress in EU negotiations, domestic reforms, and the regional context, underscoring that European integration is a strategic priority of Montenegro's foreign policy.

Ivanović also visited Trinity College, one of Europe's most prestigious educational institutions.