The Western Balkans belong in the European Union, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said after a meeting with Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic in Brussels on Tuesday.

Juncker said Montenegro has gone the farthest on the road to the EU, the Montenegrin state TV (RTCG) reported.  

Djukanovic is reported to have told Juncker that Montenegro is prepared to be a good and responsible partner to the EU in promoting European values in the region. The Montenegrin president is on his first foreign visit following his election on April 15.  

He said the country’s two most important priorities are economic development and the strengthening of state institutions in order to promote democratic values and the rule of law.  

The RTCG said Djukanovic and Juncker agreed that freedom of the media and of expression are important to Montenegro’s overall democratic development.