The European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Montenegro, on behalf of the European People's Party (EPP), Reinhold Lopatka, announced that the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) today strongly supported the Draft Annual Report on Montenegro, with 51 votes in favor, seven against and seven abstentions.
"As EPP rapporteur, I see that Montenegro has made significant progress and that the country remains the most advanced candidate in the Western Balkans. If reforms continue with determination, especially in the areas of rule of law, public administration and electoral reform, accession in this EP electoral term remains achievable. But political will and consistency are crucial on both sides: from the European Union (EU) and from Montenegro," Lopatka wrote on the social network X.
A statement published on the EP website states that the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee calls for joint efforts in Montenegro to achieve political stability and continue significant progress in reforms.
"Montenegro has a leading regional position in the EU accession process, say MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee in a report adopted on Tuesday with 51 votes in favour and seven against. Pointing to the overwhelming support of Montenegrin citizens and most political actors for EU accession in 2028, they welcome the country's progress in implementing EU-related reforms and measures, 'spurred by an ambitious timeframe,'" the EP statement said.
Political stability is important for continued progress in reforms
The EP statement added that the members of that parliament call on state institutions to coordinate efforts to achieve political stability and continue their substantial progress in reforms, in particular electoral and judicial reforms and the fight against organized crime and corruption.
"The report welcomes Montenegro's continued full alignment with the EU's common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures, including those related to Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, and commends Montenegro for its support for the rules-based international order at the level of the United Nations," the EP said.
The fight against malignant foreign interference
The statement states that European parliamentarians are also seriously concerned about malign interference by non-EU countries, destabilization efforts, cyberattacks, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns, including attempts to influence political processes and public opinion in Montenegro.
"This discredits the EU and undermines the country's progress on the path to accession. Noting that religious institutions can be used as a means of external influence, they condemn any unjustified interference by the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) in this regard and emphasize the importance of building resilience to foreign information manipulation and interference," the EP statement reads.
The electoral legal framework should be aligned with EU standards
MEPs call on Montenegro to fully align its electoral legal framework with EU standards, in particular with regard to the harmonisation of electoral legislation, transparency, campaign and media supervision, as well as the financing of political parties and election campaigns.
"They also urge the Montenegrin authorities to establish a single municipal election day throughout the country, in order to improve governance efficiency and reduce political tensions, and emphasize that this reform step is a condition for future disbursement of funds under the Reform and Growth Fund," the EP statement said.
The press release also cites a statement by the EP rapporteur for Montenegro, Marjan Šareca.
"We welcome Montenegro's clear progress on its path towards the EU, as it remains the leading candidate among the Western Balkan countries. At the same time, we emphasize the importance of effective reforms in key areas such as media freedom, electoral legislation, and the fight against corruption and organized crime. We also note that Montenegro's path is for the benefit of the people, as reflected in the consistently high public support for EU membership. This confirms that the EU accession process is not only a political goal, but also a broader social commitment, based on trust in European values and standards," said Šarec.
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