Prime Minister Marin met Montenegro’s Prime Minister Abazović and President of Parliament Đurović

Prime Minister Sanna Marin started her visit to Western Balkans in Montenegro on Monday 20 June. Marin met Prime Minister Dritan Abazović and President of the Parliament Danijela Đurović in Podgorica.

The topics discussed were Finland’s application to join NATO and how this will strengthen NATO’s security, and Montenegro’s accession negotiations with the EU. Other topics on the agenda were Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and its consequences, support for Ukraine and bilateral relations between the countries.

Finland supports Montenegro in its accession negotiations.

“We both consider deepening the European integration as a high priority. Russia’s cruel war against Ukraine has changed our security system. We need an even stronger Europe, with a strong transatlantic connection.”

Marin thanked Montenegro for the clear and strong support for Finland’s application to join NATO and said that it means a lot for the relations between the countries.

“We talked about how our membership will make both Northern Europe and NATO as a whole stronger. We take NATO’s security very seriously, in the same way as we have taken our own security for decades,” the Prime Minister said.

“We also discussed the security situation in Europe and the urgent need to increase support for Ukraine. I wish to thank Ukraine for cooperating with the EU with respect to the sanctions. Our unity is highly valuable.”

From Montenegro Prime Minister Marin travelled to Skopje, North Macedonia, where she met Prime Minister Dimitra Kovačevski, President Stevo Pendarovski and President of the Assembly Talat Xhaferi. On Tuesday Marin travels to Albania and Croatia to meet the leaders of these countries.

Inquiries: Jari Luoto, State Under-Secretary for European Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5949, Special Adviser (international affairs) Lauri Voionmaa, tel. +358 50 421 0422 and Päivi Paasikoski, Director of Government Communications, tel. +358 40 547 6279, Prime Minister's Office

Photos of the visit are available at: