Brussels and European capitals are very sensitive to the stability of the candidate countries, which is why it is necessary to respect the standards that guarantee the full independence and freedom of the media, as well as the judiciary, said the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Lower House of the Italian Parliament. Piero Fascino.
He said in an interview with "Vijesta" that it is crucial that the executive and legislative powers are stable and that extreme forms of political struggle, such as boycotts, are avoided.
"It is necessary to overcome all forms of conflict, adopting the democratic legacy of respecting the election results, whoever won the elections," Fasino said.
In Montenegro, the political situation is unstable, which further complicates negotiations with the EU, although the majority of citizens are in favor of joining the EU. What would you recommend to our politicians in order to overcome mutual intolerance for the sake of a common goal, which is EU accession?
It is clear that Brussels and European capitals are very sensitive to the stability of the candidate countries. However, instability has been common in the Balkans in recent years, especially on the occasion of elections in the countries of the region. The elections should still be conducted in accordance with the rules and their results should be recognized, whoever wins them.
It is precisely for this reason that it is necessary to respect European standards that guarantee full independence and freedom of the media, as well as the judiciary. Also, it is crucial that the executive and legislative powers are stable, and that extreme forms of political struggle, such as boycotts, are avoided. It is necessary to overcome all forms of conflict, adopting the democratic legacy of respecting election results, whoever won the elections. The more the Balkan countries show that they are stable, the more the EU will get an incentive to speed up their integration.
Montenegro has been negotiating with the EU for ten years. Where do you see the problem, considering such a long period of negotiations? Will the new methodology further slow down Montenegro's path to the EU, given the stricter criteria?
It has been 27 years since the signing of the Dayton Agreement and 19 since the Thessaloniki Summit. This period is very long, unjustifiably long. Until now, only Montenegro and Serbia have opened negotiations, Albania and North Macedonia are waiting to do so, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo have only been recognized as potential candidates for membership. This slowness of the European Union creates three negative effects: the frustration of the public opinion of the Balkan countries, the growth of the influence of other centers of power, the slowing down of their integration, i.e. the reform processes that will lead to reaching European standards.
The only way to overcome these risks is for the European Union to make progress when it comes to the speed of the process, i.e. to speed up the negotiations with Belgrade and Podgorica, to start them immediately with Tirana and Skopje, overcoming the Bulgarian veto, and to recognize the candidate status of Sarajevo and Pristina . It is necessary to clearly point out that the enlargement process is necessary for the stability and security not only of the countries of the region, but also of the entire EU. When it comes to Italy, we are absolutely convinced that the European integration of the Balkan countries is a priority, and our country is advocating and fighting along these lines for the Union to finally overcome this slowness.
However, negotiations require a certain amount of time. In the meantime, how to strengthen the relationship between the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU?
In order to speed up the negotiations, it is very important that the EU immediately allows the WB countries to participate in European policies. Also, it is of great importance that we include the countries of your region as soon as possible in European energy supply strategies in order to reduce dependence on Russian gas. Another way to achieve this is for the ministers of your countries to be part of the Union ministerial meetings concerning different sectors.
On the other hand, it is also very important that the governments and public opinion of your countries get involved in the development of reforms so that the EU itself becomes more united and efficient. In short, actions are needed to prove that Brussels wants the WB countries to participate in the life of the EU.
Could the war in Ukraine be an incentive for the EU to speed up negotiations with Montenegro?
The European Union opened its doors to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in order to guarantee their security, stability and independence. It is necessary to say here that the process of recognizing the candidate status of Kyiv, Chisinau and Tbilisi should be followed by the process of accelerating EU enlargement to the Western Balkans.
It is unacceptable to slow down the progress of the Balkan countries, precisely because they are subject to risk when it comes to security. Those risks may increase if the EU delays their integration. Again, integration is also a way to avoid the presence of troubling influences from other powers in the region.
Is the situation in Ukraine threatening the stability of Montenegro and the region, and in what way?
If you would Putin (Vladimir) conquered Ukraine, the whole of Central and Eastern Europe would be affected by negative consequences, both in terms of economy and security. We must prevent autocratic and authoritarian political models from spreading in the Balkans.
Ukraine was attacked precisely because it rejected Moscow's autocracy, and because it wants to be part of a democratic world that is in stark contrast to the barbaric autocracy of Putin. That is why the defense of Ukraine by the West is our obligation. We must not allow part of Ukraine, or the entire country, to fall under Russian control. Europe's support for the defense of Ukraine must be continued. Ukrainians are also fighting for our freedom.
Podgorica must know that Rome is on its side
How do you assess the relations between Italy and Montenegro? How does Italy intend to support Montenegro on its European path?
The Italian Government, as well as all the parties present in our Parliament, strongly support the European integration of Montenegro, as the country that has made the most progress in negotiations with Brussels. There are important historical, economic and political ties between Italy and Montenegro that we want to further improve.
We are ready to offer all the political and technical assistance necessary for the successful conclusion of the negotiations. On the way to Brussels, Podgorica must know that Rome is on its side.
Corruption continues to plague Eastern European countries
Organized crime is a problem that Montenegro has been unable to solve for years, along with corruption. The connection between certain Montenegrin and Italian criminal groups is often mentioned in the media. Is there any and how is Italy dealing with this problem?
Unfortunately, corruption is a problem that continues to plague Eastern European countries, although significant progress has been made compared to the past years. Brussels is very sensitive about this topic. It is necessary to persevere in this fight and continue along the path of respecting European standards, namely transparency, legality, impartiality, rule of law. On the way to achieving these standards, it would be useful to seek the cooperation of the EU and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
European integration is exactly that: stabilization, transparency, economic stability, democratic control, rule of law.
Bonus video:
