The representative of the SNP in the Parliamentary Committee for Stabilization and Association of the EU and Montenegro, Predrag Bulatović, requested that the joint body of the Montenegrin and European parliaments strengthen the wording related to freedom of expression by adding to the already harsh wording of the European parliamentarians in the final declaration that Montenegrin authorities stop attacks on the media, "including acts of terrorism against the daily newspaper 'Vijesti'".
Branko Radulović (PzP) made a similar request in the form of an amendment, demanding "an end to severe disqualifications and slanders by certain high-ranking political and police representatives against certain independent media, especially 'Vijesti', 'Dan' and 'Monitor'".
The draft declaration submitted to the Montenegrin parliamentarians by European colleagues for the purpose of final harmonization of the text of the declaration and recommendations welcomes the "good progress" that Podgorica has made in fulfilling the seven conditions of the EC and expects that the Council of the EU will make a decision in December on the opening of negotiations on Montenegro's membership.
However, at the same time, they express concern about "the inability of law enforcement authorities to stop the attacks on the daily newspaper 'Vijesti', as well as about "corruption that is still widespread in many areas" and "the recent deterioration of relations with Serbia".
Members of the Parliamentary Committee from the Parliament of Montenegro had the right to submit amendments to the Draft Declaration sent to them by their European colleagues. They will be discussed at the meeting in Brussels on October 3 and 4.
Solve the issue of Prevlaka
Radulović also requested that the declaration encourage all parliamentary actors to "resolve the remaining identity issues, which are often a reason for manipulations and the creation of artificial divisions and conflicts, through political dialogue and with a broad consensus, respecting Montenegrin multi-ethnicity, history, civic concept and reality." , in order to create a basis for all who are dedicated to this goal to solve the essential problems that burden Montenegro and its citizens".
He proposed that the declaration state that "satisfaction with the initiatives of the Government and opposition parties is also noted, so that through changes to the Constitution, with a broad consensus, a model will be adopted that will guarantee a true strengthening of the rule of law, especially through the depoliticization of the current closed and controlled prosecutorial and judicial Oregano".
He suggests that the declaration include a call to the competent authorities of Montenegro and Croatia to "solve the open issue of Prevlaka as soon as possible", that is, the demarcation of the two countries.
The declaration should also state that "we welcome the adoption of the Action Plan for strengthening the legislative and control role of the Parliament of Montenegro", as well as the efforts being made for its implementation.
However, bearing in mind that they are minimal, and especially in the context of increasingly demanding obligations in the integration process, Radulović calls for a "significant improvement in the working conditions and content of the activities of all deputies, so that their efficiency and effectiveness would be in accordance with future obligations and contribute as much as possible better and more dynamic integrations".
Analysis of European integration
He believes that it is necessary that "control hearings, as well as parliamentary investigations initiated by the opposition, should be permeable and be on the agenda of the Assembly and its bodies, which should be precisely defined in the new Rules of Procedure of the Assembly."
Radulović supplements the declaration with an amendment in which "concern is expressed that the Montenegrin economy and macroeconomic stability contains numerous limitations and negative trends" and that it is "faced with numerous trials, which are becoming dramatically more complicated."
To that end, the amendment states, "the need for structural and ideological changes, which will make the financial and fiscal system more stable, is recommended."
In the last amendment, Radulović "calls on the Government to prepare a comprehensive analysis of European integration, taking into account the real facts, in order to create a high-quality negotiation platform based on synthesis, analysis and review and protect the interests of Montenegro and prepare it for true European integration".
The representatives of SNP, Nova and PzP jointly requested that in the declaration sent to the European and Montenegrin institutions it should be written that "progress has been observed in fulfilling some of the conditions stated in the EC Opinion", instead of the proposal to welcome "the good progress of Montenegro in fulfilling all seven conditions".
The opposition agrees with the formulation of European colleagues that the Council of the EU is expected to decide on the opening of negotiations with the EU in December.
Identity issues cannot be swept under the carpet
Bulatović proposed two more amendments, one of which relates to the fight against corruption, which will be supported by his opposition colleagues.
He requests that the formulation of the European parliamentarians be supplemented with the statement that "improvements are being observed" in the fight against corruption, which are "insufficient when it comes to high-ranking officials".
He also wants to amend the provision of the Draft Declaration welcoming the compromise on the Law on General Education by which Montenegrin politicians have shown that "emotional debates can be concluded with a constructive compromise".
Bulatović suggests that the Parliamentary Committee encourage all key political subjects to continue to resolve problematic identity issues through compromise, which will result in the adoption of constitutional or legal acts in the Assembly or in the Government.
The delegation also includes DPS representatives Mevludin Nuhodžić, Obrad Stanišić, Milutin Simović and Aleksandar Bogdanović, while SDP is represented by Raško Konjević.
DPS told "Vijesti" yesterday that the proposal of their European colleagues was positive, not wanting to specify whether they would have amendments, although there was speculation in the opposition ranks that the ruling party might protest that European parliamentarians mentioned attacks on "Vijesti" and deterioration of relations with Serbia.
To a compromise with the Albanians
The parliamentary opposition, which will be represented in Brussels by Vasilije Lalošević, Goran Danilović, Slaven Radunović, Branko Radulović and Bulatović, believes that the paragraph of the draft declaration welcoming the population census conducted in accordance with international standards should be deleted.
In contrast to them, MPs Genci Nimanbegu and Suljo Mustafić believe that this point should be reformulated so that it says that in the implementation of the census "certain deficiencies were observed concerning the part of citizens who are temporarily absent from Montenegro, as well as "deficiencies in the statistical expression of religious belonging to citizens of the Islamic faith".
Mustafić and Nimanbegu also ask that the need for "affirmative action in the electoral process and at the local level, as prescribed by the constitutional provisions" be pointed out and "call for additional efforts in order to reach an agreement with the Albanian national parties, taking as a basis the previous legal solutions". .
The fight against corruption is selective
Radulović believes that the words "that corruption is still widespread in many areas, and that it is necessary to improve the results in matters of investigation, criminal prosecutions and final verdicts in cases of organized crime", should be replaced by the words "however, that organized crime, and especially widespread corruption in many areas and at all levels, that the fight against these scourges is insufficient and selective, especially in the cases of high-ranking officials, that, according to the statements of prosecutorial authorities, there is no necessary coordination of competent institutions regarding investigations and criminal prosecutions, as well as that technical omissions in final judgments for serious crimes of organized crime, and it is recommended that by eliminating these shortcomings and rounding up the legal regulations, the results will be significantly improved".
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