Spajiq and von der Leyen: Montenegro is preparing for the role of guardian of the EU’s external border

Montenegro’s Prime Minister, Milojko Spajiq, stated that the country is on the path towards the European Union and continues to strengthen the capacities it will need after accession. The message was delivered on the occasion of the opening of the National Coordination Centre of the Border Police in Podgorica, as CdM reports.

“On the road to the EU – always one step ahead. With the opening of the National Coordination Centre of the Border Police in Podgorica, we are strengthening the protection of our borders and preparing Montenegro for its future role as guardian of the European Union’s external border,” Spajiq said.

The creation of the new coordination centre is seen as a key step in the modernisation of the Montenegrin border police, which in the future will cooperate closely with Frontex and other EU security institutions.

In the same spirit, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, added that the EU is preparing for Montenegro’s future accession. “We are preparing for Montenegro’s borders to become the borders of the European Union,” she stated, according to the government announcement.

Spajiq concluded with the conviction that Montenegro will continue to move at a high pace towards Brussels, adding that strengthening border security is one of the main tasks awaiting the country in the final phase of the negotiations.