During his conversation with the Speaker Grasso, former Chief Italian Prosecutor of the national Anti-Mafia Bureau, President Krivokapić highlighted the issue of the rule of law as essential in negotiation process between Montenegro and the EU, especially after opening the chapters 23 and 24.

President Krivokapić says that further progress and regional leadership of Montenegro on its path to the EU will depend mostly on fulfilling obligations relating to these chapters. He assesses that Speaker Grasso, given his great achievements and results in the fight against mafia, understands how difficult for a country may be to face the fight against organised crime and establish the rule of law.

Speaker Grasso voiced pleasure over the meeting with Mr Krivokapić, reminding on earlier frequent meetings with the President of the Parliament of Montenegro during the period he performed a duty of Chief Prosecutor. He says that Montenegro and Italia have excellent bilateral relations, emphasising that Italia has been supporting Montenegro’s path towards the EU and NATO.

On the occasion President Ranko Krivokapić sent an official invitation to Speaker of the Italian Senate Mr Pietro Grasso to visit Montenegro.

In the conversation with Mr Pier Ferdinando Casini, a good bilateral cooperation between the two countries was emphasised as well as the need for further intensifying of relations between the two parliaments. The interlocutors spoke on current political and economic moment of the EU, placing an accent on economic development of the Union and greater devotion of key political factors to further strengthening of the idea of European togetherness.

President Krivokapić met members of Delegation of the Italian Parliament to OSCE PA, answering on that occasion on numerous questions about challenges being in front of the OSCE, having in mind primarily the most recent political events in Ukraine.

During his visit to Rome, President Krivokapić participated in the election congress of the Party of European Socialists during which Mr Martin Shultz, current President of the European Parliament, was inaugurated as candidate of Party of European Socialists for new President of the European Commission.  

At the congress’s margins Mr Krivokapić met Mr Shultz and spoke with him on perspectives of European social-democrats, especially in the light of elections for the European Parliament, which will be held in spring of current year.

Congress of the Party of European Socialists in Rome brought together prime ministers and deputy prime ministers of European Union key countries.