Opposition: The government is to blame for negotiations with the EU taking too long

Montenegro's negotiations with the EU are taking too long and the main culprit for that is the current government, said the opposition MPs at the conference "Montenegro facing a new model of EU enlargement policy: incentive or excuse for missed opportunities?" organized by CEMI.

The authorities, however, claim that the problem is within the EU and that no one has so far said that the problem is Montenegro.

"The reports of the European Commission are both technical and political at the same time. We receive praise in the technical sense, and in the political sense depending on the circumstances," said Daliborka Pejović (DPS).

Slaven Radunović from the DF said that essentially the EU launched an informal balance clause against Montenegro because there was no progress.

"Every citizen who wanted to critically observe this process could see this," said Radunović.

He asked if there would be a delay if Norway or Iceland started negotiations.

"Of course it wouldn't, it would end in two months because they are ready, we are not. The situation has matured in the EU that no one wants to keep their eyes closed and let Milo Đukanović pass because of some merits in international politics," Radunović believes. and added that he is very satisfied with the methodology proposed by Macron.

Pejović replied that now if the EU opened negotiations with Iceland, Iceland would also be in trouble, because people there look first at their own interests.

Dragan Krapović (Democratic Montenegro) mentioned that the EU also has its own problems (Brexit, migrants, economic slowdown), but there are also problems in the backyards of aspirants for EU membership.

"EU standards must be respected, and we in Montenegro have not had free elections for the last 30 years. We tried with our partners from the EU to come up with some kind of legal framework when it comes to elections, but the DPS is obstructing this process," Krapović said. .

Miodrag Lekić (Demos) believes that the new EU methodology will bring benefits.

"President Macron's concept deserves attention and respect. He made a serious analysis. The EU does not enter the Western Balkans, but the Western Balkans enter the EU, that is why EU standards must be respected," said Lekić and added that the government in Montenegro cannot reverse a serious rule of law page.

Filip Adžić (URA) believes that when talking about the deadlock in negotiations with the EU, the culprits can be found on both sides, but the main culprit is this government.

He said that he understands the partners from the EU who do not want attacks on journalists, actors of various affairs, privileged individuals from the government, etc. in their society.

Adrijan Vukasanović (HGI) believes that the new EU methodology can bring benefits to Montenegro, but it is inconvenient "to start a game as a volleyball game and end as a football game".

Dušan Slijepčević from the United Montenegro pointed out that Montenegro will have to justify itself to the EU because of the law on freedom of religion "which discriminates against one people" and the new aid to Montenegro Airlines.

Ivan Vujović (SDP) believes that the negotiation process should be viewed from the position of citizens because they see how they live and they don't need anyone from the EU or Montenegro to tell them that.

"We have entered the second half of the eighth year of negotiations, is there any progress in the area of ​​the rule of law - no," Vujović said.

Jovo Rabrenović (LP) said that European integration remains the goal of Montenegro and that the EU is the best model for the functioning and coexistence of the countries of the Western Balkans.