Within the Irish half-year presidency of the European Union, the Meeting of Chairs of Committees on European Affairs of national parliaments of the Member States of the European Union, where the Delegation of Montenegro also participated, ended in Dublin today.

Irish Minister of State for Trade and Development Mr Joe Costello opened the second day of the Meeting, reminding that the priority of Irish presidency of the European Union was indicating to importance of changing the direction of the Union in order to ensure stability, opening of new working places, that is, in the final, a decent life for all citizens of the Union. The Minister pointed out social fragmentation as a serious problem undermining a society and added that the policy of the Union in the future must be directed to social inclusions of young people and fight against unemployment. Three young Europeans from minority groups participated in the work of the Conference, speaking of alienation of LGBT community, perspectives of young people with disabilities and challenges that Roma communities were facing with across Europe.

Within the discussion relating to the enlargement process and regional cooperation, the gathering was addressed by the member of the Committee on European Integration of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Jovan Martinović, who presented the progress achieved by Montenegro, especially emphasising the facts that the country provisionally closed two negotiation chapters, that the process of screening was coming to end, and that it was expected chapters 23 and 24, for which action plans were drafted, to be opened soon. He informed the present that the state authorities had recognised the importance of civil sector, which was actively included in the civil process. He congratulated to the Republic of Croatia on the success of accessing to the European Union, and added that from 1 July Montenegro would have for its direct neighbour a member of the European Union, so to that end he expected even closer and more open cooperation of the two countries.

At the meeting, documents which, among other things, invite national parliaments of the Western Balkan to be, as institutions included in the integration process, engaged additionally, more broadly and more comprehensive in communication which would inform on status and reform processes of their countries, were adopted. Documents indicate to progress of Montenegro in the negotiation process and invite countries to continue reforms and respect of Copenhagen criteria.

Over 300 parliamentarians participated at the COSAC Meeting, including MPs of the Parliament of Montenegro, Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration Mr Slaven Radunović and members of the Committee Mr Jovan Martinović and Mr Dritan Abazović.