Montenegro’s bid for European Union membership got an encouraging boost today when the European Commission confirmed that the country is reaching the necessary benchmarks for opening accession talks.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle affirmed Montenegro’s achievements at the European Parliament in Brussels where he presented the 2011 Enlargement Package. The package includes progress reports on all countries that seek to join the 27-member bloc.

“Montenegro has worked hard. We have seen real progress including in: judicial reform, revising the electoral law, media freedom, anti-discrimination and the fight against corruption and organised crime. I am therefore proposing today to open accession negotiations with Montenegro,” Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle told the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee earlier today.

The Commission reports that Montenegro has been successful in addressing the key priorities recommended last October by the EU for the opening of accession negotiations. However, they note that more remains to be done, especially in the rule of law area. The Commission proposes a new negotiation approach in this area, which would include early addressing of the issues related to the judiciary, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security.

Montenegro won EU candidate status last year. The EU made Montenegro’s opening of accession negotiations contingent upon fulfilling criteria in seven areas: strengthening rule of law, combating corruption, fighting organised crime, improving the election law, overhauling public administration, enhancing media freedom and implementing anti-discrimination policies.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Lukšić will welcome Commissioner Füle in Podgorica on 13 October. A joint press conference is scheduled for 16:30.

For an overview of Montenegro’s achievements in the seven subject areas, please see the annex to this press release. For the full text of Montenegro’s EU progress report, please follow the link.