Montenegro will not join the European Union so quickly, and its president Milo Đukanović is a structural problem without solving which the country cannot develop politically, writes the Croatian Jutarnji list.
The long-time journalist of Jutarnje Željko Trkanjec states that after the elections, Montenegro started a political transition, but that this process is slow and difficult.
"The structures built by Đukanović for years need to be broken, and without him there is no stable government, at the same time making it impossible for pro-Serbian and pro-Russian parties to occupy important positions and threaten the North Atlantic security strategy. Before the 2020 elections, I wrote that Đukanović is a structural problem of Montenegrin politics. NATO is entered because it was a strategic interest, but not in the EU with its model of governance. Until that structural problem is solved so that the country can develop politically. And that's why Montenegro will not join the EU so quickly," Trkanjec points out.
The journalist of Jutarnji reminds that the meeting of the Stabilization Council for the Association of Montenegro and the EU in Podgorica is a rare situation.
"As a rule, such meetings are held in Brussels. But the whole of Brussels insists on showing that, after Moldova and Ukraine received the status of candidates, that the Western Balkans was not forgotten. And all this is good until the moment when the documents of the Council meeting are published. Which confirm that there are still obstacles in the key negotiation chapters (23, 24) related to justice and fundamental rights and justice, freedom and security. Now united in a cluster. Quote: "When Montenegro resolves all remaining deficiencies in the areas of freedom of expression and freedom media, the fight against corruption and organized crime, and speed up and deepen reforms related to the independence, professionalism and responsibility of the judiciary, Montenegro will be able to take further steps in the accession process. The participants noted that the dynamics of this work will be determined by Montenegro." "The EU can be put on the back burner, but the responsibility and the decision lies with the candidates. It is not the EU's fault that Serbia's interest in joining has fallen, it is the fault of the government of Aleksandar Vučić, who for ten years claims that Russia is its best friend," the Jutarnji List text states.
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