Podgorica, (MINA) – The EU membership does not mean the end of reforms, but it is a continuity that the country will have to carry on for the quality of life of its citizens, it was heard during a round table discussion in Podgorica.
Bulgarian ambassador to Montenegro Meglena Plugchieva said that it was important to share experiences, regarding advantages, disadvantages and hardships on the EU accession path.
“Montenegro is a leader and we will speed up its negotiation process and reaching the full-fledged EU membership”, said Plugchieva in the round table discussion “Montenegro on the EU path. Bulgaria shares its experiences”.
Head of the Politics, European Integration and Trade Section in the EU Delegation in Montenegro Plamena Halacheva said that, although physically separated from Europe, the Balkans has been considered its part for centuries.
She remarked that bed news is that EU accession will not change things overnight in Montenegro, the living standard will not improve overnight and the Montenegrin citizens will be considered “the other ones” for some time, but added all that will slowly improve.
Professor Gordana Djurovic said that the Bulgarian experience testifies that Montenegro cannot avoid a decade-long negotiation process, as well as the other countries of the region.
“It’s worth it, it’s hard and it’s getting more and more complicated. The main slogan in the region currently is “quality before speed”, since the membership requirements changed so much that it is important to join the EU prepared”, Djurovic believes.
She compared the Bulgarian and Montenegrin experiences and said that many young people left Bulgaria.
“I prefer to fight for opening of attractive work places here, to attract investors, and let the youth chose for themselves”, said Djurovic.
The EU membership, she claims, does not mean the end of the reforms, “but it is a continuity and the reforms should be carried out by the state for itself and not the membership as such”.
Professor Tatjana Burudjieva from Bulgaria remarked that the society and politicians must be prepared and know where they are heading.
She stressed out that the citizens can travel freely once a country becomes a EU member, and added that more than 2 million young people left Bulgaria, and that it is a huge problem for this country.
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