May 19 (SeeNews) - Montenegro signed the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of a harmonised system of port state control, the government said on Friday.
“We are opening a new chapter when it comes to maritime development, especially related to the safety and security of navigation and protection of the sea from pollution,” Montenegro’s deputy prime minister, Ervin Ibrahimovic, said in a press release.
“This is an extraordinary success for our country, and is significant for us as a Mediterranean country that will soon become a member of the EU,” added Ibrahimovic.
The Paris MoU on port state control is an agreement between the 27 participating maritime administrations for the inspection and supervision of foreign ships, ensuring they meet international safety, security and environmental standards. The MoU covers the waters of the European coastal States and the North Atlantic basin from North America to Europe.
Montenegro opened EU membership talks in June 2012.