Filip Ivanović: Montenegro will be a strong supporter of North Macedonia on the road to the EU
Ivanović says Montenegro backs merit-based enlargement and will be a ‘trusted partner’; officials discussed Skopje–Blace highway, port links and a Skopje–Tivat flight starting 1 May.
Montenegro will be a strong supporter of North Macedonia on its path to the European Union, Montenegro's deputy prime minister for foreign and European affairs, Filip Ivanović, said during a two‑day working visit to Skopje.
Ivanović told reporters that Podgorica supports EU enlargement based on merit and that, as a frontrunner in accession talks, Montenegro expects to become a full EU member in 2028. He added that Montenegro’s membership would strengthen support for other countries in the region.
"When Montenegro becomes a full member of the European Union it will be a strong supporter of North Macedonia in its EU integration process, with a wish that we quickly find ourselves together in the European political family. Macedonia can be completely sure that it will have a trusted partner in Montenegro," Ivanović said.
Bilateral ties and practical cooperation
On a joint press appearance with North Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikolovski, both officials described political relations between the two countries as excellent and said there are no open bilateral issues — a foundation they said opens space for deeper economic and infrastructure cooperation.
Infrastructure links were high on the agenda. The ministers discussed connecting North Macedonia to the Montenegrin port of Bar via the already‑underway Skopje–Blace highway, a route that Nikolovski said will complement existing port connections and broaden the country's maritime access.
"Given that we have good connection to the port of Thessaloniki, we are building connection to the port of Durrës; with the construction of this highway we will have an excellent connection to the port of Bar and in that way we do what is best for the country, and that is for a country which does not have a coastline to have access to at least three ports," Nikolovski said.
They also announced a new air link: from 1 May a Skopje–Tivat route will be established, operating twice weekly, a development officials said will improve passenger and business ties with Montenegro.
Photo: press material from the event
