Montenegro applies to join EU

Montenegro, one of the youngest democracies in Europe with a population slightly bigger than Malta's, has officially submitted its application to join the EU.

The formal request was made during a meeting in Paris between the country's Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, current chair of the EU presidency.

Montenegro, which has a population of 650,000 and which had voted for independence from Serbia in May 2006, became the fourth former Yugoslav republic to apply for EU membership, after Slovenia, already a member, and Croatia and Macedonia, which both applied in 2004.

Although welcoming this latest application, the European Commission is still reticent about Montenegro's readiness.

After a meeting with Mr Djukanovic, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, said Montenegro had made important progress in its preparations for integration.

However, he would only say that "there is a firm consensus on the question of European integration and Montenegro has a constructive and stabilising role in the region".

Montenegro already uses the euro, even though it is not a formal member of the eurozone, something which is not welcomed by EU authorities.