Members of the Committee on European Integration met today with Mr Simon Sutour, Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs of the Senate in the Republic of France, who was paying an official visit to Montenegro, at the invitation of the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Slaven Radunović.

The meeting was an occasion to exchange opinions on Montenegro's progress towards the European Union, political changes in Europe in the light of the election results for the European Parliament, as well as the possibilities of further strengthening cooperation between Montenegro and France. In this regard, members of the Committee on European Integration expressed their opinion for the need for innovation of the Road Map for strengthening the French-Montenegrin relations, an agreement signed between Montenegro and France in 2009, for the purpose of harmonization with current needs of Montenegro, which was in the process of accession negotiations, but also for the purpose of defining new modalities of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

Senator Sutour expressed clear support of France to Montenegro's European path, adding that each candidate country would progress toward membership in accordance with the results achieved and reforms implemented. Despite the fact that in the recent elections for the European Parliament the position of the Euro-skeptic parties was strengthened, the senator expressed his opinion that in the future enlargement policy would stay on top of the European agenda. During the meeting, he expressed his satisfaction with the participation of Montenegrin parliamentary delegations to the meetings organized within the six-month presidencies of the EU, pointing out to the possibilities for concrete cooperation between parliamentary committees of Montenegro and France.

Aside from the Senator Sutour, the meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of France to Montenegro, Ms Veronik Brimo and the Associate to the Senator, Mr Sebastian Rishar. Members of the Committee for European Integration, who participated in the meeting, aside from the Chairman Radunović, were the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Mr Zoran Srzentić and members Mr Srđa Popović and Koča Pavlović.