Ambassador to Montenegro, after stalemate country moves closer to EU

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 14 GIU - Montenegro "after a period of stalemate is relaunching its path towards the European Union". This was underlined by Andreina Marsella, Italian Ambassador to Montenegro, speaking in connection with GeoAdriatico, an international symposium underway in Trieste on the themes of diplomacy, economics, science and religions, promoted by Cinzia Vitale onlus.
    During the panel devoted to "Eastern Europe: the Italian economy in support of integration and growth", Marsella explained that "the process of rapprochement with the European Union was at a standstill and blocked for many years, the situation is no longer like this because the country has taken a significant step towards the EU since the new government took office at the end of October. It has unblocked regulations in the justice sector, which had been pending in some cases for 5-6 years, and it has carried out a very intense activity of legislative reform. We are waiting to know what will be the decision of the Member States: if everything will go as we hope, by the end of June the second intergovernmental conference regarding Montenegro should be held, which should certify, also by the Member States, this remarkable step forward of Montenegro towards the next goals in terms of approaching the European Union".
    The president of GeoAdriatico, Roberto Vitale, then outlined a summary of the second day of the symposium: "The so-called Balkan route, necessarily known in recent years for human trafficking, is spoken of here as a route of economic penetrability. But many topics relating to Eastern Europe and the Italian economy are also addressed, supporting the Balkan area in particular'.
    Tomorrow an in-depth discussion on climate change is scheduled, which will also include a report by Nobel Peace Prize winner Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, and a round table on the Adriatic as the centre of gravity of an external policy vision of the Mediterranean.