The rapporteur of the European Parliament (EP) for Montenegro, Tonino Picula, said that the enlargement process depends on the degree of democracy and respect for the rule of law, in which it is important to strengthen the controlling role of the parliament.
At the beginning of the week, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament adopted the Report on the recommendations for the extension of the rapporteur in the EP, Tonino Picula. The document presents the recommendations of the European Parliament to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission for Foreign Policy and Security for the Western Balkans, before the Summit for the WB, which was planned for the beginning of May. The ruling structure in Montenegro believes that the adoption of the Report is a clear message of support for the countries of the Western Balkans and encouragement for the continuation of reforms, while part of the opposition does not share the optimism, considering that the country has not advanced in key reforms, that there is no question of the rule of law or free elections.
What do the adopted Recommendations for membership of the Western Balkan countries to the European Union mean for Montenegro?
First of all, it should be remembered that the enlargement policy was at a dead end at the end of last year after the opening of negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania was blocked. At the beginning of this year, a historic premiere took place when a member state left the EU.
Therefore, even before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which, like an earthquake, shook the structure of the Union, the enlargement policy was losing momentum. However, already in February, the European Commission proposed a new methodology for the negotiation process so that the European Council would give the green light for the start of negotiations with Skopje and Tirana in March. This week, despite extremely reduced working conditions, the European Parliament, through its foreign policy committee, sent very strong support for the continuation of the EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans. The adopted Recommendations are a political message from the EP that the EU will not close itself behind the existing external borders and that it must not limit its historical mission within the existing framework.
When it comes to Montenegro, although the Recommendations were not written for one country but for the entire region, in many places she can recognize in them support for the continuation of the reform effort, but also clear incentives that everything still needs to be solved or changed. I think Podgorica is suited to the point of view that the processes of internal EU reform and its new enlargement can and must take place in parallel, as well as that each candidate must be evaluated only on the basis of her own results.
It is also motivated by the proposal that candidate countries, even before entering full membership, can, with financial support, participate in various programs and policies, so that citizens can feel tangibly what EU membership means as soon as possible.
A reform of the electoral legislation is expected, which would guarantee free, fair and transparent elections in accordance with international standards. You should not skip the part of the Recommendation where threats to journalists and various attempts to limit the free work of the media are condemned.
How do you comment on the repeated objections of the opposition in Montenegro (after the adoption of the Recommendation) that there is no progress, but rather a regression in the rule of law and the creation of conditions for free elections?
It is neither disputed nor unexpected that the Recommendations immediately entered the space of party confrontations. It is, of course, a political document and requires political interpretations. This is not surprising, especially given the situation in which Montenegro is today. In an election year, the traditionally strong political polarization will obviously be even more pronounced.
Regardless of any party position, the Recommendations underline how insights into the functioning of democracy and respect for the rule of law will be at the core of the assessment of the sustainability of the enlargement process. Equally, there is talk of the need to overcome fruitless political polarizations, to give up forced boycotts of the parliament and to strengthen the control role of the parliament. In addition, reforms of electoral legislation are expected, which would guarantee free, fair and transparent elections in accordance with international standards. You should not skip the part of the Recommendation where threats to journalists and various attempts to limit the free work of the media are condemned.
When do you estimate that the Summit of the leaders of the European Union and the Western Balkans, which was scheduled for the beginning of May, could be held?
The Croatian presidency of the European Council has marked support for the process of further EU enlargement as one of its priorities. The meeting in Zagreb, planned for the beginning of May, was supposed not only to politically declare that support at the highest level, but also to present the modalities of economic and financial support to the process. Unfortunately, the summit was postponed. I hope that, in some substitute form, the meeting will still be held during June, until the end of the Croatian presidency.
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