Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset concluded a two-day official visit to Montenegro. He reaffirmed the Organisation's strong partnership with the country and acknowledged its ongoing reform efforts in the fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
During his visit the Secretary General held high-level meetings with the President of Montenegro, Mr Jakov Milatović, the Prime Minister, Mr Milojko Spajić, the Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Mr Filip Ivanović, the Minister of Justice, Mr Bojan Božović, and members of the Montenegrin delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Following his meeting with Prime Minister Spajić, the Secretary General emphasised Montenegro's constructive engagement with the Council of Europe and welcomed the progress made in advancing reforms aligned with European standards - particularly in the judiciary, the fight against corruption, and anti-discrimination. He also highlighted Montenegro's upcoming Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers in 2026-2027, as a clear sign of its commitment to multilateral cooperation.
"Montenegro is on a promising path. The positive momentum in the rule of law sector is encouraging, and we will continue to support the country in turning reforms into long-lasting results", said the Secretary General.
In addition to institutional meetings, the Secretary General addressed students at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Podgorica, held an open exchange with representatives of the international community, and met with civil society organisations and staff of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica. The visit concluded in Budva with Alain Berset's participation in the joint meeting of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), where he underlined the importance of inclusive growth and social cohesion as foundations for democratic resilience.
Throughout the visit, the Secretary General reiterated the Council of Europe's full readiness to accompany Montenegro in meeting its democratic and human rights commitments, in close synergy with its European aspirations. His visit marked a renewed commitment to shared values and opened new avenues for strengthened cooperation between Montenegro and the Council of Europe.
