Kos: Before making any decision on dual citizenship, Montenegro should fully inform the EU of its intentions

Kos, in response to a question from an EP member, states that Montenegro should refrain from all measures that could threaten its strategic path towards the EU, or the security of the Union, including the use of its powers to grant citizenship.

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Piece, Photo: European Commission

European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos she said that the European Commission (EC) expects Montenegro to fully inform the EU of its intentions before making any decision on dual citizenship.

This stems from her answer to the question about the European Commission's plans regarding the prevention of possible risks for Montenegro and the EU due to the announced changes to the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship.

The question was submitted by a European representative in September Davor Ivo Stier (HDZ) to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Jozep Borelj, stating that the adoption of the right to dual citizenship would allow countries that have a geostrategic interest in Montenegro to influence its election results.

In her response, Kos pointed out that all legal changes, including amendments to the Constitution, should be based on European standards and implemented after an extensive consultation process and with as much cross-party political consensus as possible.

These changes, as she stated, should be harmonized with the expected reforms related to the EU, as specifically stated in the Report on Montenegro for 2024, with the aim of fulfilling Montenegro's obligations in the accession negotiations.

"The Commission expects Montenegro to fully inform the EU of its intentions before making any decision," Kos stated.

She said that "the Commission is closely following the development of the situation in Montenegro".

"According to international law, determining the conditions for acquiring and losing citizenship is within the competence of each member state, and the national rules in question must be in accordance with Union law in situations to which that law applies," answered Kos.

She pointed out that, as a candidate country, Montenegro should refrain from any measures that could threaten its strategic path towards the EU or the security of the Union, including the use of its powers to grant citizenship.

In the middle of the year, the representatives of a part of the pro-Serbian bloc submitted requests for the amendment of the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship, i.e. primarily the introduction of dual citizenship with Serbia, to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.

The existing act was adopted in 2008 and is restrictive regarding dual citizenship. According to it, a person, in addition to the Montenegrin citizenship, can have the citizenship of another country if he acquired it before the declaration of independence of Montenegro on June 3, 2006, or if there is a bilateral agreement with the other country. Montenegro does not have such an agreement with any other country.

The Prime Minister also supported the initiative Milojko Spajic, saying that Montenegro must not give up "its children". He later supplemented the statement that "there are about 300.000 cases that this law should recognize" by announcing that the Government, on the initiative of the Assembly, will work on drafting a legislative framework that would establish a system of dual citizenship, modeled on EU countries.

Politicians like the president of the Albanian Alternative and a minister in the government Nika Đeljošaj, strongly oppose such initiatives, warning that they could change the national structure of Montenegro and lead to serious political tensions.

President of the Democratic Party of Socialists Danijel Zivkovic he said this week that behind the retirement of the judge of the Constitutional Court, which he called a "constitutional coup", there was an intention to change the law on citizenship.

"What they aim for is the passing of a law on Montenegrin citizenship, and this coup aims to form a Constitutional Court that will work according to the orders of the majority." Spajić and (President of the Republic of Montenegro Andrija) Mandić are responsible for what happened and what will happen," Živković said at a press conference in the parliament.

The question posed by Davor Ivo Stier was also signed by members of the European People's Party (EPP) Club. Michael gahler (EPP foreign policy coordinator), Milan Zver (Slovenian Democratic Party), Matej Toni (New Slovenia - Christian Democrats) i Tomislav Sokol (Croatian Democratic Union).

In the question, it is stated that "in today's dynamic geopolitical environment, we are witnessing constant attempts of external interference in the internal procedures and structures of the EU and candidate countries, with the aim of destabilizing the European Union and its fundamental values".

"The ongoing public debate in Montenegro on the idea of ​​changing the Law on Citizenship and enabling a decision on the right to acquire dual citizenship deserves our attention, especially when it comes to the European path of Montenegro, but also the sovereignty of the state".

They note that Montenegro, with about 630.000 citizens, currently prohibits the issuance of dual citizenship, and any changes in this context could have serious and long-term consequences for decision-making processes and the country's identity.

"The fact that the numerically small electorate in Montenegro could easily be overpowered by the votes of new voters, who will exercise that right by obtaining dual citizenship, is of particular concern," reads the parliamentary question in which the Commission is asked to take concrete steps to respond to this situation.

Kos demands urgent electoral reform, the parliamentary committee is blocked

Kos announced that the Commission expects an "urgent" reform of the electoral rules.

"The Commission expects Montenegro to urgently adopt a comprehensive electoral reform in order to harmonize its legislation with European and international standards, including the recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)," stated Kos. .

Among the key recommendations of the ODIHR for the improvement of the electoral legislation in Montenegro are a comprehensive revision of the electoral legislation, including the financing of parties, improving the integrity of voter lists, improving the media monitoring of the campaign...

The work of the Parliamentary Committee for Electoral Reform is currently blocked, because it is being boycotted by the opposition until the decision to retire the judge of the Constitutional Court is changed.