EU accession remains a merit-based process, and Montenegrin political actors are asked to work together across party lines and enable key reforms, the EU Delegation in Podgorica said.
"Like any other candidate country, Montenegro needs to meet the standards and rules that support the fundamental values of the EU and that apply equally to all EU member states. This requires Montenegrin political actors to work together beyond party lines and enable key reforms of the rule of law, so that the country can move forward on its path towards the EU", the Delegation told "Vijesta" on the occasion of ten years since the start of negotiations between Montenegro and EU.
Negotiations with the EU officially began on June 29, 2012. So far, all 33 negotiation chapters have been opened, and only three have been temporarily closed.
In 2020, Montenegro accepted that negotiations according to the new methodology, which stipulates that without meeting the criteria in chapters 23 and 24 (judiciary and rule of law), no chapter can be closed.
The delegation said that with all open negotiation chapters, Montenegro is the most advanced candidate country in the process of European integration.
"The strategic priority of the new coalition government is to speed up negotiations on the country's accession to the EU, so this moment is an opportunity for Montenegro that should not be missed. It is well known what needs to be done in order to meet the temporary benchmarks for the rule of law under Chapters 23 and 24, and definitive progress is possible provided that the Government fully focuses on filling critical gaps", said the Delegation.
As they say, the EU will continue to provide full support to Montenegro's efforts to achieve progress in key reforms and fight for a place in the EU.
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