Paris  - Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovich on Monday handed over his country's official EU membership application to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the current EU president.

Also present at the meeting was EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, who said, "the European perspective given to the Balkan countries is essential for the stability and prosperity of the region and the EU."

Montenegro is the last ex-Yugoslav republic to have gained independence. The tiny Adriatic republic declared independence from Serbia in June 2006. (dpa)