It is important that the Montenegrin government understands that with pro-Russian and pro-Serbian elements and a fig in its pocket in relations with its neighbors, there can be no progress on the European path, said Croatian Member of the European Parliament (EP) Tomislav Sokol (HDZ) today.
He said this after the Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović said yesterday that Croatia had not blocked, but rather paused, the closing of Chapter 31 in Montenegro's negotiations with the European Union (EU).
"Let's not reduce politics to linguistic gimmicks and minimize problems, it is important that the Montenegrin government understands that with pro-Russian and pro-Serbian elements and a fig in their pocket in relations with their neighbors, there can be no progress on the European path," Sokol wrote on the social network X.
Ivanovic told RTCG yesterday that absolutely all criteria for closing Chapter 31 have been met.
"I think it would be good to say that Croatia did not block, but rather paused the closing of Chapter 31, given that absolutely all the benchmarks for closing Chapter 31 have been met. In any case, as you yourself mentioned, consultations are ongoing. We are approaching them in good faith. I am absolutely sure that the Croatian side is also approaching them in good faith. So during these talks we will certainly resolve a certain number of issues that are on the agenda. And we will certainly have the position of the Croatian side in the coming months. Among other things, on Chapter 31. And I am sure that this chapter can be closed very quickly," Ivanovic stressed.
On December 13, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU Member States (COREPER II) approved the closure of three chapters in Montenegro's negotiations with the EU.
These are chapters 7 (intellectual property law), 10 (information society and media) and 20 (entrepreneurship and industrial policy). Chapter 31 (foreign, security and defense policy) did not get the "green light" at COREPER II.
This was also announced at the behest of the Hungarian EU presidency on the social network X.
According to the unofficial information of "Vijesti", the closure of Chapter 31 was blocked only by Croatia.
DON'T MISS IT
Bonus video:
