False readiness for the EU: laws without publicity, reforms without substance

Montenegro's European integration process is increasingly presented as a race against time, in which key laws are passed in an urgent manner, without substantial preparation and without the involvement of those most affected. Although progress is formally recorded through the closure of negotiation chapters - we are aware that they are largely closed on paper - there are increasing indications that behind this progress lies a serious deficit of transparency and participation, with a lack of actual implementation of adopted solutions in practice.

The latest example comes from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which has formed a working group to draft a draft law on fire protection. Despite the importance of this area for the protection and rescue system, a public call for participation from representatives of the non-governmental sector, the professional community and voluntary fire brigades has not been published.

Attempts to find such a call were unsuccessful. Additionally, contacted representatives of volunteer fire companies and services from several municipalities confirmed that they were not involved or consulted. Even more worrying is that they indicated that this practice is not an exception, but the rule that has been going on for years.

According to available information, the working group was formed internally. The same pattern, according to our knowledge, was also applied in the drafting of the Law on Weapons and Ammunition, as well as the Law on Explosive Substances for Civil Use. The fact that there have been no public calls published in this area on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs since May 2024 is also of concern.

This way of working clearly indicates the systematic exclusion of citizens, the professional public, non-governmental organizations, operational services, and voluntary fire brigades from the process of passing laws. It is particularly problematic that those who bear the burden of the protection and rescue system on a daily basis - firefighters, airport and highway services, as well as entities in the field of nature and environmental protection - are left out.

According to professional knowledge, an additional problem is the deliberate avoidance of adopting a key systemic law on firefighting, which would regulate the organization and functioning of the fire service. Instead, priority is given to the law on fire protection, without adequate expert discussion. Such an approach is not only illogical, but also harmful to the functioning of the system.

Unofficially, the reasons for this practice lie in political pressure to close Chapter 27 as soon as possible. In this race, speed has clearly become more important than quality, and form more important than substance. According to industry sources, a broader discussion is even being deliberately avoided in order to prevent opposition from operatives and experts who point out real problems.

A key question arises here: are laws being passed to improve the system or to create the appearance of progress towards the European Union? If the goal is only to close the chapter “on paper”, then a legal framework is being consciously built that will not be applicable in practice.

It is particularly worrying that this approach does not meet with a clear and loud reaction from European partners. If such practices are known, yet tolerated for the sake of political goals, then the question rightly arises as to whether this undermines the basic principles on which the European path is based - transparency, the rule of law and public involvement.

Montenegro must not allow itself to reduce European integration to an administrative simulation of reforms. Laws that are passed without public opinion, without expertise and without a real need for the system do not represent progress - but a serious risk to the functioning of the state.

The least our heroes - firefighters - deserve is the immediate disbandment of this internally composed working group for the drafting of the Fire Protection Law. Instead of closed and non-transparent processes, it is necessary to immediately issue a public call for the formation of a working group for the drafting of the Fire Protection Law, as a fundamental systemic act, and then for the Fire Protection Law. In both working groups, at least half of the members must come from operational units, voluntary fire departments, the non-governmental sector and professional associations - precisely those who carry this system on their shoulders every day. Anything else would be a continuation of the practice of passing laws without knowledge, without experience and without responsibility towards the people who are the first on the line of defense when it is most difficult.

The author is a civic activist