Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – Minister of Finance Novica Vukovic and the newly appointed Belgian ambassador Frederik Develter agreed that Montenegro and Belgium share common European values and a commitment to strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation.

“They exchanged views on Montenegro’s European accession process, with particular focus on intensifying efforts to close the remaining negotiation chapters and become fully-fledged member of the European Union (EU),” the Ministry of Finance stated in a press release.

Vukovic informed the ambassador about current reforms being implemented by the Ministry to enhance fiscal sustainability, combat the informal economy, and strengthen institutional transparency, including key measures for meeting the benchmarks in the chapters coordinated by the Ministry.

He said that 22 laws under the Ministry of Finance’s jurisdiction had been adopted between November 2024 and August 2025.

Develter emphasized that Belgium strongly supports Montenegro’s European integration and personally believes Montenegro will become an EU member by 2028.

He welcomed the significant progress Montenegro has made and stated that a credible EU enlargement policy is strategically important for the stability and development of the Western Balkans, viewing Montenegro as a leader in this process.