It is completely realistic to expect that Montenegro will become a member of the European Union in 2030, and even earlier, if it is able to maintain a national consensus that is committed to and prioritizes EU accession both in government policy and in the work of the parliament, said the Hungarian ambassador. in Podgorica Jozef Nedjesi.
He said in an interview with "Vijesta" that the Montenegrin leadership can only successfully meet the criteria for accession with full political consent and get the political support of the EU member states for the country's European integration.
"Montenegro must show full commitment to implementing legal and judicial reforms that strengthen the rule of law. This includes ensuring an independent judiciary, an effective legal framework and impartial law enforcement," said Neđeši, whose country took over the EU presidency in July.
He also claims that Hungary is trying from the first moment to provide all possible help to Ukraine for the reconstruction of the country.
What are the main priorities of the Hungarian presidency, does EU enlargement remain in focus?
For the Hungarian presidency, it is indeed one of the main priorities to facilitate the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans to the European Union - we want to take one step forward in the process of accession of all candidate countries of the Western Balkans. Hungary believes that the enlargement process is one of the most important policies of the EU, and in order for it to remain so, it is necessary for that process to remain stable, credible and based on the merits of the candidates. The EU has long been committed to providing a European perspective to the Western Balkans, because the community cannot be complete without the accession of the region. Accession of the region is beneficial for the EU in economic, security and geopolitical aspects. We want to put a special emphasis on regular political dialogue with the countries that are candidates for EU membership, to support them in their efforts to meet the Copenhagen criteria.
In addition to promoting the enlargement process, the priority is also the improvement of the EU's competitiveness through the adoption of the New European Agreement on Competitiveness, the strengthening of the European defense policy, the suppression of illegal migration, the support of the future of the cohesion policy and the development of the agricultural policy of the EU, which is aimed at farmers. In addition, we want to put demographic issues and challenges on the agenda in all bodies of the Council of the European Union.
Can Montenegro count on Hungary's support on its way to the EU? Do you believe that Montenegro can become a member of the EU by 2030?
Of course. From the beginning, Hungary has been consistent in supporting Montenegro's accession to the EU. This clear and active position, which manifests itself in diplomatic and professional assistance, will follow the entire process until its successful conclusion. In order for the accession process to be successful, it is necessary to maintain a national consensus on the most important issues, recognizing that the country's progress in this area is a national interest that cannot be threatened by possible political instability. The Montenegrin leadership can only successfully meet the accession criteria and receive political support from the EU member states for the country's European integration with full political consent. For Montenegro, the year 2030, and even an earlier date, can be completely realistic, if it is able to maintain a national consensus that is committed to and prioritizes EU accession both in government policy and in the work of the parliament.
Montenegro has been negotiating with the EU for 12 years. What, in your opinion, are the main reasons why the negotiations are taking so long?
The process of accession to the EU is a very complex process of negotiation and adjustment by the countries that want to join. There is no other international organization whose membership requires fulfilling such a difficult and lengthy system of technical, legal and political conditions. Unfortunately, the longer the entry procedure lasts, the more conditions must be met, because the EU legislation, and therefore the conditions for entry as a whole, are becoming more extensive, deeper and more diverse. It is possible to request and receive some time flexibility in order to reach the minimum state of readiness required for accession. This will be resolved by an agreement between Montenegro and the EU and its member states within a few years (hopefully as soon as possible).
However, over the past 12 years, the accession process has not taken so long simply because of its complicated nature. On the one hand, in 2020, the EU member states reviewed the implementation of the entire accession process by the EU - in the expert jargon of the EU "methodology" - and partially included it in the new approach and evaluation framework. In the meantime, Montenegro once again faced a political and institutional crisis, which slowed down the implementation of measures and reforms necessary for EU accession. This is precisely why it is very important that the Government and Parliament of Montenegro preserve the stability they achieved 10 months ago and remain fully committed to EU accession.
What is the key obstacle for Montenegro on its way to the EU? Is it corruption and organized crime and a weak judiciary?
The rule of law is one of the basic principles of the functioning of the EU, the respect of which is crucial for all countries that want to join the EU, including for Montenegro. Montenegro must show full commitment to implementing legal and judicial reforms that strengthen the rule of law. This includes ensuring an independent judiciary, an effective legal framework and impartial law enforcement. The EU is closely monitoring progress in these areas as part of the accession process. Maintaining the rule of law is essential for the fight against corruption and organized crime, which are a significant challenge not only in Montenegro, but also in other candidate countries. Strong legal frameworks and respect for the rule of law are also essential for attracting foreign investment and promoting economic stability. Investors are looking for predictability and legal certainty, which can only be ensured in an environment where the rule of law is consistently respected.
How do you assess the economic cooperation between Montenegro and Hungary? Can Hungarian investments be expected to grow in the coming period and in which areas?
For Hungary, Montenegro is one of the most important economic partners in the Western Balkans region, which is confirmed by the fact that, compared to the size of the country, the presence of Hungarian capital in Montenegro is one of the largest in the world. This is primarily the merit of large and regionally significant Hungarian companies, such as OTP, 4iG or Hunguest Hotels, which have made significant investments in Montenegro in recent years. Crnogorska komercijalna banka (CKB), which operates within the Hungarian OTP group, is currently the leader in the Montenegrin market, and also plays a significant role in the economic development of your country by financing local development projects and companies. With the purchase of Telenor, 4iG became the second largest telecommunications operator in Montenegro, but in the coming period this Hungarian company intends to participate in further investments.
We are pleased by the fact that, in addition to investments, the trade exchange between our countries has been growing intensively in recent years, so bilateral foreign trade in goods has increased by 2023 percent in 25 compared to the previous year. We hope that the fact that the Hungarian Export Development Agency HEPA has its representative office in Montenegro, whose most important task is to deepen the relationship between Hungarian and Montenegrin entrepreneurs, will contribute to the further development of trade relations. It is important to note that - thanks to the support of the Hungarian Government - our capitals are connected by a direct airline, which not only encouraged two-way tourism, but also played an important role in the development of business and trade relations. Large Hungarian companies that are already present in Montenegro are mostly satisfied and have good experiences in your country, so Montenegro is no longer an unknown market for Hungarian companies that are interested in investments and business opportunities. Therefore, I am convinced that the example of the mentioned companies will be followed by other Hungarian companies. Especially since in recent years, thanks to the significant economic growth of our country, a large number of Hungarian companies have strengthened and started to realize larger investments abroad, so there are great chances that some of these companies will appear in Montenegro as well. Based on conversations with representatives of Hungarian companies interested in investing in Montenegro, I see a real opportunity for the development of our bilateral economic, business and investment relations primarily in the fields of tourism, infrastructure development, environmental protection and agriculture.
"Hungary is trying to provide all possible help to Ukraine"
In recent years, Hungary has repeatedly blocked the decisions of other EU members, especially when it comes to aid to Ukraine, which is why there is skepticism that Hungary is working against the EU and does not want enlargement. Is that correct?
From the first moment, Hungary has been trying to provide all possible help to Ukraine for the reconstruction of the country, that is why it is doing everything in accordance with its capabilities and economic power to reduce the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Hungary continues its largest humanitarian campaign to date in the interest of supporting the victims of the war in Ukraine.
Bonus video:
