On behalf of the European Union "I want to recommend prudence on the way ahead," Rehn told the press after meeting Djukanovic, referring to the process of the dissolution of the state union with Serbia after Montenegro voted for its sovereignty at the May 21 referendum.
"Montenegro has a concrete European perspective like the other countries of the Western Balkans," the commissioner said. "However, there is no shortcut to Europe."
Rehn said that the first step which Montenegro had to do would be to conclude and implement a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). The EC official called on the building of political consensus inside Montenegro.
This was Djukanovic's first visit to Brussels after the referendum.
Today he also met Javier Solana, the EU High Commissioner for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Solana also stressed that the Montenegrin referendum had been conducted in accordance with the highest international standards.
We accept its results and it is now important that the referendum procedure be formally completed, and Montenegro must turn to itself, Solana said.
Djukanovic expressed willingness for the promotion of the political consensus in his country, adding that the independent Montenegro would contribute to the stability of the entire region.
"I have conveyed our intention to step up efforts aimed at homogenisation of political potentials in Montenegro and to conduct prudent talks with Serbia on the dissolution of the state union and on the definition of our future relations," the Montenegrin premier said.
He said he was convinced that Montenegro could conclude the SAA with Brussels by the end of this year.