May 30 (SeeNews) - Montenegro is the European Union candidate country closest to accession, Josep Borrell, the Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said on Tuesday
"Montenegro is the most advanced accession candidate, an important ally, and a future member of the European Union. For that, I want to stress that you are the first on the line, the most advanced accession candidate. And it is taking a long time - I know," Borell said after a meeting with Montenegrin president Jakov Milatovic in Brussels, as seen in a video posted on the European Council website.
However, Montenegro should continue to carry out reforms, especially the rule of law, he stressed.
Montenegro started membership talks with the EU in June 2012. So far, all the 33 screened chapters have been opened, of which three are provisionally closed.
At his inauguration earlier this month, Milatovic pledged to work for the country's economic promotion and acceleration of its progress on the path to EU membership.