The European Parliament rapporteur on Montenegro, Tonino Picula, said on Monday that the Western Balkans must not be left aside in planning the future EU foreign policy.

“What is encouraging and what should be shared with the Montenegrin public is that the new European Commission, aware of many problems it is inheriting from the previous Commission, has chosen as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy a person who made it clear during a hearing before the European Parliament that the Western Balkans cannot be left aside in planning the future European foreign policy,” Picula said in an interview with Montenegrin television.

Picula said he had visited Montenegro many times and was acquainted with the political reality in the country. He said it was not easy to predict Brussels’ plans at a time when the EU was facing a lot of internal problems, but he encouraged Montenegro to continue on its EU path.

“Montenegro has made great progress, 32 chapters have been closed. This is, first of all, some sort of not just a technical process but also a political process so that things in Montenegro would be better,” Picula said.

Picula was appointed rapporteur on Montenegro on October 10.