摘要: |
Pleas for financial assistance by Montenegro have been rebuffed by the European Union which had repeatedly cautioned against a US$1 billion (€840 million) Chinese road contract.The former Yugoslav republic has been aiming for EU accession for several years and was hoping a bailout from the deal for the yet-to-be-finished A-1 motorway would be forthcoming, according to media reports.The reports also note that Montenegro's debt to the Chinese - one-quarter of the country's overall debt - has highlighted concerns over Chinese influence in Europe's western Balkans region.EU foreign policy spokesperson Peter Stano is quoted as saying that the European Union will "continue to stand by them [Montenegro], but we are not repaying the loans they are taking from third parties". |