Resolution of US Congressmen in Support of Montenegro's EU Admission

Republican and Democratic congressmen have submitted a resolution asking US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to advocate for Montenegro's accession to the European Union.

"We call on the President and the Secretary of State to cooperate closely with the Government of Montenegro," states the draft resolution, which Radio Free Europe (RFE) has had access to.

The resolution was prepared by Congressmen, Republican Mike Turner and Democrat Shelley Pingree.

In mid-July, it was forwarded to the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration.

Former Montenegrin Foreign Minister and Ambassador to Washington Srdjan Darmanovic told RFE/RL that support for the resolution would be logical for two reasons - because Montenegro is a NATO ally and because the United States supports the enlargement policy.

"Everything that comes from Washington – no matter which administration – is always important for European affairs. Although the US does not have a direct say in EU enlargement issues, that policy has not changed," he points out.

Who are the proposers?

Darmanović points out that the two proposers are "proven friends of Montenegro".

As the then foreign minister, in 2018 he presented Republican Congressman Turner with the Presidential Order of the Montenegrin Flag for his support for NATO accession.

The order was awarded a year after Montenegro became a member of the alliance.

The decision on membership was made during President Donald Trump's first term.

"Turner was the chairman of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly at the time I was ambassador to Washington (2010-2016). He is one of the most deserving people in American political life for Montenegro's entry into NATO," Darmanović points out.

Democratic Congresswoman Shelley Pingree leads the Montenegrin Caucus in the House of Representatives.

She is a representative in the US House of Representatives from the state of Maine.

Montenegro has had a strategic partnership with this American state since regaining independence in 2006, especially in adapting the Montenegrin army to NATO standards.

"Traditionally, congressmen and senators from that state try to support something related to Montenegro as much as they can and when they can," explains Darmanović.

Noting that the Trump administration "shows no particular interest in the Western Balkans," Darmanović points out that the submitted resolution "resembles bipartisanship," considering that it was proposed by congressmen from both parties.

However, he emphasizes that Turner does not belong "to the part of Trump's MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement supporters."

"Regardless of internal divisions and who belongs where in the Republican Party, this is a fairly uncontroversial proposal, which in no way calls into question the interests of the United States. On the contrary... I think there will certainly be no problems on the Democratic side."

President Trump's special envoy Richard Grenell said in a meeting with Montenegrin Defense Minister Dragan Krapović on September 11 that "the United States values ​​Montenegro as a reliable NATO member."

As announced by the Ministry, Grenell also welcomed the results that the Government is achieving on the path of European integration.

What else is written in the proposed resolution?

The draft resolution confirming support emphasizes that Podgorica "plays a strategic role in the Alliance's Balkan mission, despite Russia's efforts to keep Montenegro away from NATO."

The text of the resolution also highlights the support of the Montenegrin authorities for Ukraine in the war against Russia, which began three and a half years ago.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Montenegro has provided military aid to Ukraine worth over 11 million euros, received the largest percentage of Ukrainian citizens, and complied with European sanctions against Moscow...

The text of the resolution also emphasizes that Montenegro, with the help of American institutions, has made progress in the fight against corruption, transnational organized crime, and countering hybrid threats.

Congressmen called on US authorities to work closely with the Government of Montenegro on the Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation.

The framework is the State Department's mechanism for countering the problem of manipulation and foreign interference, which, Washington points out, poses a threat to the national security of the United States and partner countries.

Special emphasis, however, is placed on Montenegro's European integration process.

"The United States encourages the Government of Montenegro and Montenegrin institutions to prioritize necessary reforms and measures for EU membership, as well as efforts to advance peace and prosperity in the Western Balkans," the proposal reads.

Montenegro currently has all negotiation chapters open.

The government plans to close them all by the end of next year and become an EU member in 2028.

At this point, a little more than 20 percent of the chapters have been closed.

Years without ambassadors and lobbyists in the US

Montenegro, by the way, has not had an ambassador in Washington for three and a half years.

After the then ambassador's term expired in 2021, the Montenegrin authorities only elected his successor last year.

At this moment, there are no lobbyists representing the interests of foreign countries in the USA.

Montenegro, for example, had lobbyists in America non-stop for two full decades, from 1995 to 2015.

This was followed by only one six-month engagement, which ended in May 2023.