EU summit endorses move to open door to Montenegro

(BRUSSELS) - European Union leaders endorsed a move to open the door to membership to Montenegro on Friday, launching accession talks but urging the Balkan nation to do more against corruption and organised crime.

"Good news for Montenegro," said EU president Herman Van Rompuy at the close of a two-day summit of leaders of the 27-nation bloc. Accession talks with Podgorica will begin "this very afternoon," he said.

The decision followed an accord by the bloc's foreign ministers this week, who recommended kicking off membership talks while calling for progress on the rule of law and fundamental rights.

Montenegro President Filip Vujanovic said this came as a boost to the entire Balkan region's quest to join the EU fold.

"The significance of this decision is that the EU indicated that the accession negotiations for the western Balkan countries are being continued," Vujanovic said.

Montenegro obtained official status as an EU candidate nation in December 2010 and now joins Turkey and Iceland, also in negotiations toward ultimate EU accession, a process that generally takes years.

Croatia on the other hand is set to become the bloc's 28th member next year.

EUROPEAN COUNCIL - 28-29 June 2012 - CONCLUSIONS