Montenegro, Serbia to Open New Border Crossings

Almost seven years since negotiations started, Serbia and Montenegro have agreed to open six new border crossings and to sign an agreement on regional and international cross-border traffic.

According to the Interior Ministry documents, which BIRN has seen,  the two countries agreed to signed additional protocols on joint border checkings, to meet EU standards.

Montenegro and Serbia will open joint border crossing for road traffic between Bijelo Polje in Montenegro and Prijepolje in Serbia (Gostun - Dobrakovo crossing), between Rozaje in Montenegro and Novi Pazar in Serbia (Spiljani - Dracenovac) and between Pljevlja in Montenegro and Prijepolje in Serbia (Jabuka - Race).

Three more border crossing for road traffic will open between towns of Tutin and Priboj in Serbia and Rozaje and Bijelo Polje in Montenegro.

Two additional protocols on joint border checks by Serbian and Montenegrin police and customs are also part of the new border deal. 

The agreement and additional protocols are expected to be ratified soon by both governments after the state commissions finished their work in February.

"Particular attention has been paid to regulating the border traffic regime in order to facilitate the movement in the border areas of both countries, to develop and promote economic, educational, health, social, cultural, sports and other forms of cooperation," the document seen by BIRN said.

Both Serbia and Kosovo are rushing to finish the process of opening a joint border crossing and continue to work on a demarcation of the borderline after the EU's new
Western Balkan strategy set 2025 as a possible date for the countries to join the club.

Brussels has in recent years reaffirmed its stance that it will not allow  new...

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