The Race of Snails

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Montenegro’s parliament approved a new government this week – five months after the country’s elections, Politico reported.

The new government is made up of a coalition of pro-European, pro-Serb and Albanian minority parties, with former Finance Minister Milojko Spajić serving as the country’s prime minister.

Spajic said the government’s key foreign policy priorities will include joining the European Union, continuing its participation in NATO, improving relations with neighboring countries and involvement in multilateral organizations.

Montenegro declared independence from Serbia in 2006, initiated EU accession talks in 2012, joined NATO in 2017, and has adopted the euro as its currency.

In recent years, the country has experienced widespread anti-government protests. In April, long-standing President Milo Đjukanović was defeated in a historic presidential election.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Spajic and President Jakov Milatovic as part of her four-day tour of the Western Balkans. She urged officials to advance the Balkan country’s EU integration process, the Associated Press noted.

Von der Leyen also announced a $6.3 billion investment package for EU candidates in the Western Balkans, on the condition they implement certain governance reforms.