The key to membership in the courtroom: Brussels praised Montenegro, but also pointed to chronic ills

Despite the best assessments so far of Montenegro's progress on its path towards the European Union (EU) and the announcement that the moment of preparing the writing of the treaty on accession to that community is approaching, Brussels has once again warned Podgorica that it is still struggling weakly with its chronic ailment - high crime and corruption, telling it that, if it wants membership, it must strengthen the institutions that need to solve that problem as soon as possible.

"Vijesti" interlocutors assessed that the annual report of the European Commission (EC), published yesterday, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, although largely positive, is an indicator that Brussels recognizes all the weaknesses of the system, primarily in the insufficiently efficient fight against corruption and crime.

Encouraging messages such as those that this was a successful "European" year, that Montenegro is the best prepared candidate for EU accession, and that Podgorica, if the current pace of reforms is maintained, is on track to close negotiations by the end of 2026, must not, the interlocutors claim, overshadow the shortcomings of the report - that there are no verdicts in high-profile cases, that some trials are being dragged out indefinitely, that the quality of indictments has not improved...

The Commission praises the work of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) and the increase in corruption investigations, but notes that this and other institutions that are publicly recognized as key players in the fight against crime - the Special Police Department (SPO) and the Special Department of the Podgorica High Court - lack staff and optimal working conditions.

Brussels emphasizes that the amendments to the Law on the Anti-Corruption Commission, adopted last year, have significantly improved the efficiency of the institution's work in the fight against high-level corruption, and the launch of an investigation against the former director of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ASK) was particularly commended. Jelena Perović.

The EC has been indicating for years that the lack of rulings against "big fish" is obstructing the country's progress in the two most important negotiation chapters - 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice, freedom and security). These two chapters are the last to be closed in the negotiations.

The EC called for strengthening the efficiency of the judiciary, filling "high" positions in that branch of government and the prosecutor's office, reducing the number of unresolved cases in the Administrative and High Courts (Podgorica) and the SDT, as well as reorganizing the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) and the Police Directorate (UP) to, as they said, improve corruption prevention and internal control.

The Commission also expressed concern regarding the criticisms made by the Speaker of the Parliament during the parliamentary debate on the annual report of the Prosecutorial Council and the State Prosecutor's Office. Andrija Mandic and government deputies addressed the prosecutor's office, accusing them of wanting to become the "fourth branch of government." The EC stated that these attacks included personal attacks on the Supreme State Prosecutor Milorad Marković.

"Such events raise serious concerns about undue influence and risk undermining the autonomy of the prosecution," they warned.

Milovac: Corruption still pays off

Director of the Research Center of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) Dejan Milovac, told "Vijesti" that, although the report is moderately positive, the assessment that Montenegro is still only partially prepared to fight corruption and organised crime can hardly be a surprise. He stated that the Commission had rightly once again pointed out the lack of final judgments in cases of high-level corruption and organised crime, which, according to him, will continue to be one of the key obstacles to closing the most important chapters.

"This assessment, as well as years of stagnation in this area, are a direct consequence of the lack of political will to make the fight against corruption and organized crime sustainable and real. Instead of building a legislative and institutional framework that will be resistant to political pressures and the interests of powerful individuals, the authorities have largely continued to maintain the status quo, in which institutions are used as a tool for protecting the privileged, rather than for enforcing the law," Milovac assessed.

He pointed out that even five years after the overthrow of the three-decade-long regime of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), “which is rightly perceived as the main perpetrator of the systematic collapse of state institutions,” the new authorities have failed to make a substantial step forward and provide justice to citizens. He added that the results have remained limited, although the new authorities have promised a decisive fight against corruption, and that the old practice of political influence over the judiciary has remained unchanged.

"The lack of final verdicts is a direct consequence of both the enormous political pressure on the judiciary, which has not disappeared with the change of government, and the lack of accountability in the judicial system. Judges and prosecutors still do not bear the consequences for proceedings that are endlessly delayed, expire, or end in acquittals despite abundant evidence of abuses," the interlocutor notes.

He said that a general perception of impunity for corruption and crime still prevails in Montenegro, and that cases such as the endless postponement of the proceedings against the former President of the Supreme Court Vesne Medenica, as well as the "Telekom" and "Stanovi" scandals or the "Carević" and "Krimovica" cases, which were practically concluded without any accountability - clearly show that corruption still pays off.

"This situation shows that the EU's message through a positive IBAR (Benchmark Assessment Report for Chapters 23 and 24) was misunderstood - instead of serving as an incentive for continued reforms, the authorities understood it as confirmation that EU membership is guaranteed, regardless of the results," he said.

Milovac said that he is additionally concerned that even after everything that was seen through the correspondence from the "Sky" application, serious steps are still not being taken towards "vetting" - checking the integrity of office holders in key institutions of the system, primarily in the judiciary and police.

"While there is a lot of talk about 'vetting' in the judiciary, but nothing is being done, there are hints of possible checks in the police sector, but with great scope to make the entire procedure more transparent in order to narrow the space for manipulation, abuse and political showdowns under the guise of reforms," ​​the interlocutor notes.

He warned that Montenegro will not meet citizens' expectations or EU demands as long as reforms remain “superficial and cosmetic.” He explained that this particularly applies to anti-corruption reforms, which will continue to be one of the key challenges.

"Integration cannot be a goal in itself, as it is largely perceived and presented by the political elite, but rather a chance for Montenegro to build democratic institutions, resistant to the party and particular interests of any individual in power and the criminals associated with them," Milovac underlined.

Koprivica: Judiciary to step up

Deputy Prime Minister Momo Koprivica (Democrats), told the editorial staff that the EC considers Montenegro the most advanced candidate and that this confirms that the country is a "truly good example" in the Western Balkans and a factor in accelerating European integration.

According to him, the Commission's assessment, which recognizes "the progress made in the fight against corruption", shows that Montenegro today "definitely is a state governed by the rule of law".

"This assessment confirms that the reforms that the state, or rather the Government, is implementing in the area of ​​the rule of law are recognized as the result of serious political will and systemic changes," he told "Vijesti".

Koprivica stated that the absence of an optimal level of final court decisions has been recorded, and that this continues to be a limiting factor in the overall assessment, emphasizing that this is an indicator that it is necessary to further improve the efficiency and independence of the judiciary, as well as coordination between the prosecutor's office and the courts, so that the results of investigations are translated into verdicts.

"In this regard, the Government has undertaken significant reform measures to strengthen the capacities of judicial institutions, improve the legal framework, improve the material and financial position of judicial office holders, ensure conditions for independent and efficient handling of corruption cases, and continue cooperation with international partners with the aim of fully implementing the EC recommendations," he noted.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the budget for the judiciary in 2025 has been increased compared to 2024, and that the Commission has noted this, and added that a series of measures are planned to improve working conditions.

"... Thus, at the last session of the Council for the Rule of Law, a series of conclusions were adopted regarding the adaptation of the courtroom of the Basic Court in Podgorica for the needs of the High Court, and the adaptation of the old Government building for the needs of the SDT is entering its final phase," he explained.

Koprivica believes that the lack of court epilogues in high-level corruption cases does not contribute to citizens' trust in the judicial system.

"The lack of effective and dissuasive penalties, despite the proactive and respectable actions of the prosecution and police in cases of high corruption, is a serious handicap and does not strengthen the public perception of the judiciary as a whole. The EC recognizes what citizens see and what concerns them, calling into question trust, and that is primarily the unacceptable tolerance of delays in court proceedings," the interlocutor claims.

He said that the inefficiency of court proceedings is also a source of risk in the security domain, and that Brussels has recognized this.

"... Because certain individuals are again at large due to the failure to issue a verdict within three years, while still committing serious criminal offenses. Preventing abuses of the Criminal Procedure Code, which is recorded by the EC, is predominantly part of the responsibility of the judiciary, and the necessity of measures to strengthen procedural discipline is something that the Government advocates...", said Koprivica.

He assessed that the rationalization of the judicial network is a challenge for everyone and that synergy between all branches of government is needed for this remaining obligation, saying that raising the reputation of the judiciary will create an incentive for quality lawyers, especially young ones, to engage in their careers and professionally.

"The government will support working conditions through a series of activities, and the Ministry of Justice has already taken significant steps in this regard. Without an efficient judiciary, the fight against corruption cannot be brought to an end. Therefore, the judicial branch of government must also assume its share of responsibility for Montenegro's European path," the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out.

Bajramspahić: Ratings have increased, criticism is abundant

Civic activist Dina Bajramspahić, she said that, although some ratings in the report have increased, the content of the document is full of criticism and accurately detects the dysfunctionality of the institutions. She stated that the EC's finding on the attack by the ruling majority on the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office (SPO) has special weight. She explained that, since the report refers to the period until September of this year, if a problem that occurred after the conclusion of the document is added to it, it speaks of the special gravity of the situation. This is exactly what happened in the case of the attack on the SPO.

When it comes to judicial reform, Bajramspahić said that the Commission once again reminds her that those responsible continue to ignore the recommendation of the Venice Commission (VC) that the composition and method of selecting members of the Prosecutorial Council be defined by the Constitution.

"In addition, it emphasizes the incompleteness of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, and that both bodies must improve their strategic approach to addressing shortcomings in the work of courts and prosecutors' offices," she told the newspaper.

Bajramspahić noted that, although corruption is one of the most pressing issues in the country, the systemic fight against it is not satisfactory.

“The EC states that ‘the new National Anti-Corruption Council, established in February 2024, has structural weaknesses, with an inadequate work plan and organizational structure’. Shortcomings were noted in the monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plans by the Operational Team formed by the National Council. It was recommended that the Council take a more active role and that its internal structure, work plan and resources be better defined,” she noted.

She stated that in the field of anti-corruption, criticism was also expressed against the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and that it was objected that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is in an acting state and that it was pointed out that this negatively affects the stability and sustainability of the police, as well as increases the risk of political influence.

"Amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs regarding the employment and promotion of police officers have been criticized," Bajramspahić points out.

Gorjanc Prelević: A beautified painting

Director of Human Rights Action (HRA) Tea Gorjanc Prelevic, assessed for "Vijesti" that the report paints an embellished picture of the real situation and does not state all the omissions that it would have been more useful to list so that they would not be repeated.

She said that, as far as the judiciary is concerned, "some progress" has been noted, and that there is no particular news compared to the previous report.

"The same recommendations are repeated. It is emphasized that the transparency of the work of both councils (Judicial and Prosecutorial) is ensured - sessions are public, attended by the media and civil society organizations, which is true. However, it is also stated that both councils regularly publish decisions, which is not true for the Judicial Council, which has stopped publishing decisions of the disciplinary council, which is a significant decline in transparency," said the interviewee.

She pointed out that the report indicates that the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils continue to face challenges in publishing reasoned decisions on elections, appointments and disciplinary proceedings, and that they must make additional efforts to restore public trust in the judicial system, stating that this assessment is justified, and that decisions on elections still do not clearly state all the criteria.

"Overall, the judiciary, together with the Ministry of Justice, should have a much more strongly expressed and coordinated approach to better organization and working conditions, with the implementation of intensive measures to improve efficiency and overall move closer to meeting the final benchmarks by the end of 2026," said the HRA director.

Ćupić: Progress, but there is still work to be done

The Commission assessed that the efficiency of KAS continued to improve, despite certain difficulties caused by delays in the appointment of KAS management and limited institutional resources.

"The new ASK Council has been elected, but Montenegro must urgently appoint a director with a full mandate, as this position has been vacant since April 2024. The absence of a permanent leader limits the legitimacy of the Agency's governance and its strategic direction," it warned.

Results in the area of ​​corruption prevention, it was specified, continue to improve in quantitative terms, but the overall impact of the KAS's work remains limited.

"The Agency is still managed by an acting director, and the process of selecting a new director only began in March 2025. The Agency's independence, impartiality and accountability need to be further strengthened," the document states.

It was also noted that ASK is facing a staff shortage - it currently employs 54 employees, while the Regulation on Systematization, adopted in October 2024, provides for 98 positions.

President of the Council of ASK Pavle Ćupić, told "Vijesti" yesterday that the report proves that the institution is "on the right track".

"And that the reforms we are implementing are recognized as visible progress in strengthening the integrity of institutions and the accountability of public officials," he emphasized.

He states that all the results that ASK has achieved in the past period are "not the ultimate goal, but the foundation on which we are building a new phase of work - a phase of trust, transparency and measurable results."

According to him, it is particularly encouraging that the Commission has recognized improvements in asset and income checks, party financing supervision, as well as in the area of ​​whistleblower protection and improvement of the normative framework.

"This is the result of the dedicated and professional work of the Agency's employees, but also of constructive cooperation with partners from the competent institutions and the non-governmental sector. The Agency's Council will continue to strongly support the process of institutional consolidation and professionalization of work, with a special focus on the election of a full-term director, strengthening financial independence and hiring new professional staff...", he said.

Ćupić pointed out that the fight against corruption is a process that requires "perseverance, cooperation and the trust of citizens."

"That is precisely why the Agency will continue to act as a partner to all who share the same goal: a Montenegro free from corruption and ready for full membership in the EU," Ćupić pointed out.

Đurović: End the embarrassment regarding RTCG

What the civil society has been warning about for almost a year has come true in the report - the Commission warned that failure to comply with media laws "may have consequences for (temporarily closed) Chapter 10 (information society)".

First of all, this refers to the fact that the Parliament has not yet appointed members of the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AMU).

"Instead of trying to bring AMU back under political control and trying to maintain political control over Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG), the government could have implemented the Law on Audiovisual Services and received a positive assessment in the report. The government obviously believed that the EC would abandon principles and standards and that they would succeed in ensuring political control over key institutions in the media sector through amendments to the law," the director of the Media Center told "Vijesti" yesterday. Goran Đurović.

The Commission also pointed out that “a swift judicial resolution of the case relating to the appointment of Boris Raonic to the position of Director of RTCG, essential to ensure that the Public Service fully complies with the law, as well as the highest standards of professional integrity and responsibility”.

"The EC report pointed very directly to problems in the media sector, and all of this was communicated in a milder language in the previous report. The government led by (Milojko) With spaghetti, Mandić and (Milan) Knežević, (Alex) I will be in Vienna, with assistance (Ervina) Ibrahimović, (Nika) Đeljošaja and (Vladimir) Joković "It ignored all formal and informal advice and calls from the EC to appoint members of the AMU Council and to free RTCG from political influence. The EC clearly stated in its report that there will be no changes to the law and no return of political control over the Agency and RTCG," notes Đurović.

According to him, now the "brave" government deputies, who swore that they would not support the appointment of civil sector and CANU candidates to the AMU Council, will have to raise their hands and confirm the will of the authorized proposers.

"If they don't do that, the possibility of reopening Chapter 10 has been hinted at. The government has been embarrassing itself for a year regarding the implementation of media laws," Đurović emphasized.

He called on the judiciary to finally end "the disgrace that has lasted four years with the illegal actions of the RTCG Council and the election of the Director General."

"If the judiciary is thinking of sending a message to all those who think they are playing with the state, acting illegally and enriching themselves, then soon four members of the RTCG Council will be sentenced to prison, and the RTCG Director General will be sentenced for inciting the commission of a criminal offense and forced to return around 200.000 euros illegally acquired in the name of earnings. What the authorities will do with the EC's orders remains to be seen. What does not have to be seen and what is clear is that this government, like the one before 2020, has no intention of giving up control of institutions," concludes Đurović.

In addition to the issue of implementing media laws, the EC report emphasizes that Montenegro continues to implement a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against journalists. However, they point to new cases of attacks on journalists in the period between the two reports.

The document also emphasized that the EC's media-related recommendations from the previous year were partially implemented, "and therefore remain largely in force."

In the coming period, it was emphasized, Montenegro should especially continue to ensure rapid and efficient protection of journalists from all forms of violence through judicial and police mechanisms, with priority processing and judicial resolution of the most significant unresolved cases.

Electoral reform, judges, visas...

In its report, the Commission called for the adoption of a single law on the retirement of judges, amendments to the law on the financing of political parties, and the introduction of visas for residents of countries that require them to enter the EU.

Dejan Milovac said that in the part relating to the financing of parties and election campaigns, the Commission once again stated that the law must be revised and harmonized with European standards.

"MANS reminds us that non-transparent party financing is the root of political corruption in Montenegro and that as long as institutions tolerate the concealment of donations, the misuse of public resources and the buying of influence - elections can be neither free nor fair," he said.

Dina Bajramspahić said that numerous findings from the report confirm that the Commission is aware of the problems in Montenegro. She stated that the document recognizes in several places that relations within the ruling majority are slowing down progress.

“For example, it specifically states that 'the process of harmonizing legislation with the EU in certain negotiation chapters slowed down in early 2025 due to internal political challenges,'” she explains.

When it comes to electoral reform, Bajramspahić points out that Brussels has objected that the adopted changes "have not been substantially agreed with relevant stakeholders," and that a significant amount of work remains to be done.

“The Prime Minister’s disrespect for the State Assembly has been noted, as has the constitutional crisis caused by the unconstitutional removal of the powers of the Constitutional Court by the Assembly (the case of the termination of the function of a former judge Dragani Đuranović"It was reiterated that the recommendations of the "Venetians" must be urgently implemented. The dysfunctionality of the Government was also noted, and it was also recommended to improve the technical expertise of the structure in charge of accession negotiations," the interlocutor added.

She said that quite harsh criticism is present in the chapter on public administration reform, “which is one of the three supporting pillars in the entire negotiations.” Bajramspahić pointed out that the word “backsliding” is only mentioned in the report in the section concerning visa policy.

"Namely, according to the EC, 'Montenegro has significantly regressed in harmonization with the EU visa policy' because, instead of reducing the number of exemptions from the visa regime, it continued to grant visa liberalization to countries that require a visa to enter the EU," she stated.

The threat of "second-class membership"

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, said yesterday that Montenegro had made significant progress and tangible results, saying that the moment to start writing the membership treaty was approaching. However, she said that new EU members could be put on a "probationary period" to prevent them from acting like "Russia's Trojan horse" upon joining the EU.

Bajramspahić pointed out that Kos' assessment of the "trial period" made it crystal clear what Europe thinks about candidate countries for membership.

"This statement is not a surprise and shows what the EU really thinks about the degree of democratization and Europeanization of this region, regardless of the renewed optimism about the enlargement policy," said the interviewee.

He also adds that since yesterday, Kos has been the spokesperson for the possibility of new members being excluded from the EU in the event of a setback in the area of ​​democracy.

"This particularly speaks to how sustainable and fundamental the progress of our countries in the EU seems. The Western Balkans still, unfortunately, resembles Hungary more than the advanced and exemplary member states, which stand out for the quality of the work of their institutions, and this causes reservations among member states that do not want to introduce tectonic disruption into the Union," said Bajramspahić.

He points out that, if the announced plan is adopted in the EU and Montenegro is offered "second-class membership", the government will be responsible for this, as it "lulled itself into superficial statements about progress, while behind closed doors no one believed in such progress and they are very aware of the real state of affairs".

She stated that Montenegro must be equal to all other members, because it is no less valuable.

"But in order to be equal, the situation in the country needs to be improved in a much more serious way than is currently the case. It is in the interest of both the EU and Montenegro to insist on the highest standards when it comes to the rule of law and the protection of human rights. The citizens of Montenegro need quality institutions and there is a real risk that the situation in the country will drastically deteriorate after membership," the interviewee assessed, adding that for this reason the country must demonstrate that it is undertaking serious reforms that will prevent regression and the growth of authoritarianism as soon as the EU stops implementing the "conditionality policy".

The Deputy Prime Minister also reacted to Kos' statement. Filip Ivanovic, saying that Montenegro's goal is full membership in the EU, that it would be difficult to accept that after membership the country does not have the right to vote, and that the probationary period ends "once we close all chapters".

All tickets to 2026.

Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Johan Sattler, said yesterday that this year was successful for Montenegro's path towards the Union, but that the next one will be crucial, especially in the area of ​​the rule of law, implementation of the recommendations of the Venice Commission, strengthening the fight against corruption and organized crime...

At a press conference to present the report, he said that the EU stands firmly with Podgorica "with strong support and clear expectations", adding that this is the best report the Commission has issued on Montenegro so far.

"The state needs to ensure stability in the police by appointing full-time leaders. The legislative and institutional framework has been established, but a new Law on the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms is needed. Montenegro has maintained full compliance with the EU's foreign and security policy. Keep it up," Satler said.

He, among other things, emphasized that Montenegro needs to find solutions to overcome open issues with Croatia, adding that Brussels hopes for rapid progress when it comes to appointing judges of the Constitutional Court, members of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, as well as the Vice Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG).

Prime Minister Spajić assessed that the report was the most positive so far and confirmation that dedicated work was done on "national priorities" and other issues.

"The report also points to the challenges we must address. I see the recommendations from Brussels as a roadmap for the government, parliament...", he said at a press conference with Sattler.

When asked by journalists what the Government would do regarding the EC's recommendation to quickly resolve the case of the Public Service Broadcaster's director Raonić and the missing SAMU leadership, Spajić responded that they want to maintain the independence of the Public Service Broadcaster, adding that the executive branch "does not have such an influence on the Public Service Broadcaster."

"But we will do what we can," he stressed.

Speaking about visa policy, Spajić said that the situation is clear and that this policy must be harmonized with that of the EU.

"... Both the executive branch and the parliament will do everything in our power to harmonize our visa policy with the EU... The introduction of visas for Turkey is temporary. We will consider all options. It is very important to maintain economic activity, to maintain very good relations with all those countries where the introduction of visas is necessary. I think that in communication with all those countries we will find the best solution," Spajić said.

Head of State Jakov Milatovic, assessed that the report confirms that Montenegro remains "the most advanced candidate country".

"I believe the time has come for the EU to support our ambition with a clear political signal - by starting to draft an accession treaty," Milatović told Brussels-based Politik, adding that this would represent "a recognition of our progress and a strategic investment."

Parliament Speaker Mandić assessed that the report confirms that Montenegro has once again been recognized as a “leader of European integration in the region”. He stated that he was particularly encouraged by the announcement of the drafting of the accession treaty, which, as he added, clearly shows that “Montenegro's European path has entered its final phase”.

Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorcevic, said that the Commission has clearly recognized the progress of Montenegro, "which is consistently and decisively building a European future."

"Montenegro has secured democratic and stable institutions, achieved visible results in the fight against corruption, and developed a pluralistic, free media environment, which means that our democratic system is maturing and strengthening every day," she wrote on the "Iks" network.

Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ibrahimović announced that Montenegro has received the most positive evaluations from the EC so far, and that it clearly strengthens the country's position as the most advanced candidate and the first next member.

"Such messages represent strong encouragement for both the institutions and the citizens of Montenegro... When we fulfill it, we will be able to say with all our hearts that we have left a strong, European state, oriented towards European values, as a legacy for future generations," he said.

Vice President of the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for European Integration Ivan Vukovic, said that the positive tone of the report and optimistic statements by EU officials - represent encouragement for anyone who wants to see Montenegro in the Union.

"At the same time, based on the content of the report and everything we have had the opportunity to see in our country over the past year, it is completely clear that the Union wants to see Montenegro as the 28th member state, much more than certain political entities and numerous individuals who today make up its state government," he concluded.

The Institute of Alternatives announced yesterday that, according to the grades given for 33 chapters, Montenegro achieved the best progress score so far - 3,63, and that the average readiness score is 3,45 - showing the highest degree of readiness (for closing the chapters) so far.

Negotiations on Montenegro's accession to the EU began on 29 June 2012. Since then, Podgorica has opened all 33 chapters and temporarily closed seven (three at the end of last year and one in June this year). These are chapters 25 (science and research), 26 (education and culture), 30 (external relations), 7 (intellectual property law), 10 (information society and media), 20 (entrepreneurship and industrial policy) and 5 (public procurement).

What was left out of the report?

Tea Gorjanc Prelević points out that the report does not provide a detailed review of the practice of proposing laws with a significant impact on human rights without consultations with the EU, without public debate and without an assessment of the impact on human rights (amendments to the laws on public gatherings, on the National Security Agency, on internal affairs...).

He also states that it is worrying that institutionalized historical revisionism has not been pointed out, including the erection of a monument to the Chetnik commander and war criminal Pavle Đurišić.

"The report still does not reflect the real situation in the field of torture prevention. Although it states 'some progress' in the implementation of the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) and the UN Committee against Torture (CAT), the pace of reforms is actually insufficient...", pointed out Gorjanc Prelević.

She said that the report notes the delay in adopting standard operating procedures for the police, but does not criticize the fact that the implementation of all CPT recommendations does not depend on the adoption, for example, of the Rulebook on the Performance of Police Work and the Application of Police Powers, which has been in the works for years.

"These are urgent measures that must and can be implemented immediately - such as recording interrogations in the police and prosecutor's office, introducing body cameras for police officers, storing footage of police premises for up to 60 days, conducting effective investigations and effectively suspending police officers, and improving material conditions in detention and prison institutions," said Gorjanc Prelević.

Mugoša: Government blocks appointments in financial institutions

Boris Mugoša, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on economy, finance and budget, told "Vijesti" that the EC's warnings fully coincide with what it has been pointing out for a long time: that political obstruction and trade within the majority are blocking appointments in key financial institutions - the Fiscal Council, the Central Bank of Montenegro and the State Audit Institution (SAI).

"Everything I have been warning about for a long time has been confirmed. The government's obstruction of important appointments in the financial sector is clear. Appointments suffer due to political bargaining and blackmail within the majority's constituents and their obvious desire to politicize institutions. As far as I am concerned, the public has witnessed and continues to witness how much I insist on the appointments of members of the Fiscal Council, vice governors, members of the CBCG Council, members of the Senate of the State Audit Institution and the President of the Senate. Of course, I constantly call on the government to engage in dialogue with the opposition on this issue, which, unfortunately, is not happening, and this is an indicator of their democratic immaturity and essential lack of European profiling," Mugoša assessed.

He said that he had done everything he could as the chairman of the Committee.

"Now the key responsibility lies with the majority. I hope that we will complete all appointments by the end of the year, but, unfortunately, I do not hope that with this majority, the key principle in most appointments will be the professional references of the candidates," Mugoša emphasized.

The EC report warns that Montenegro must urgently establish a Fiscal Council, which is required by the Law on Budget and Fiscal Responsibility, but has not yet been established because the Parliament has not appointed its members. This institutional vacuum, it says, further complicates the control of public spending and the planning of long-term fiscal policies.

Brussels also warns that political deadlocks are seriously undermining the independence of the Central Bank of Montenegro and the credibility of monetary policy, and that the appointments of two vice-governors and four members of the Central Bank Council have been blocked for months, while the Parliament has rejected the candidates proposed by the Governor without explanation. Brussels is calling for an urgent, transparent and professional selection of the leadership, in order to restore confidence in the work of the most important financial institution in the country.

In addition, the report recalls that the SAI is without a Senate President, which further slows down the processes of controlling the spending of public money. The EC calls for this election to be completed as soon as possible, emphasizing that an efficient external audit system is crucial for protecting the financial interests of the state and the EU.

Tensions in government over Kosovo, occasional quarrels with Belgrade

The European Commission assessed in its report that Montenegro generally maintains good bilateral relations with neighboring countries.

The document states that relations between Podgorica and Belgrade are "generally stable", although, they say, there are "occasional mutual accusations", without specifying what kind of accusations they are talking about.

The EC notes that Montenegro's relations with Croatia have "intensified through ongoing dialogue, in order to find solutions to remaining bilateral issues," without saying what Podgorica and Zagreb are arguing about.

Montenegro and Croatia began bilateral consultations at the end of January with the aim of overcoming disputes (ownership of the ship "Jadran", compensation for prisoners from Morinje, a plaque on the site of that casemate...) because of which Zagreb prevented Podgorica from closing Chapter 31 (foreign, security and defense policy) at the end of last year.

When it comes to relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the EC assesses that they "generally remain good", recalling that "occasional events" in Republika Srpska (one of the two entities of BiH) have provoked "strong reactions from senior Montenegrin officials".

One of these events was the decision of the Court of BiH, which sentenced former RS ​​President Milorad Dodik to one year in prison (he redeemed the sentence) and a six-year ban on political activity, for disrespecting the decisions of the High Representative in BiH.

The report states that relations with Kosovo have remained good, which, according to the EC's findings, confirms “a shared European and Euro-Atlantic perspective.” However, the EC notes that there are occasional inter-party tensions (on the Kosovo issue) within the Montenegrin parliamentary majority.

These tensions were seen, among other things, in the announcement by Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ibrahimović that Podgorica would support Kosovo's application for membership in the Council of Europe. This caused outrage among the parties of the former Democratic Front.

The commission also addressed Montenegro's relations with countries that are not its neighbors. The document states that bilateral relations with Turkey remained stable and included high-level visits, "with expressed intentions to further develop bilateral cooperation, especially in the area of ​​economic development."

The document does not mention the recent decision of the Government to introduce visas for Turkish citizens, following the incident in the Podgorica settlement of Zabjelo, in which MJ (25) was wounded, and for which the police initially suspected a Turkish and an Azerbaijani citizen (in the meantime, a reversal occurred, and two Azerbaijanis are now suspects). Nor is it noted the series of xenophobic incidents against Turkish citizens that followed the incident.

Abolish economic citizenship, follow the agreement with the UAE

The most vulnerable groups in society - women, LGBTIQ and people with disabilities (PWDs), continue to be exposed to discrimination, hate speech and crimes, the report says.

It was specified that women face multiple and interconnected forms of discrimination. The EC states that persons with disabilities cannot fully exercise their rights, and warns that the process of adopting regulations on a unified system for determining disability has not yet been completed.

The report emphasizes that LGBTIQ people continue to be targets of hate speech, and that the RE (Roma and Egyptian) population faces an extremely high level of discrimination in the areas of education, employment, housing...

It is necessary to hire more Roma mediators, the doors to political representation of this population remain narrow, and the coordination of institutions is weak, the Commission assessed.

She warned that Montenegro is lagging behind in fulfilling key obligations in Chapter 27 (environment and climate change), especially in the areas of air protection, but also when it comes to waste management. They also recalled that the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant is underway, and stressed that the Government must accelerate the process of closing that plant.

The report also points out that Montenegro should abolish the economic citizenship scheme, as it is "incompatible with EU law" and poses a security risk.

The document also recalls that the Agreement between the governments of Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on cooperation in the field of tourism and real estate development, concluded in March, states that all contracts, programs and agreements with investors from the UAE are exempt from the public procurement legislation of both countries.

"Montenegro must ensure that the implementation of this and other similar agreements does not violate or circumvent the EU acquis on public procurement. The way in which the agreement will be interpreted, applied and enforced will have to be carefully managed and the EU will monitor it closely," it said.

Kalas: A realistic goal is to expand the EU by 2030.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced yesterday that Montenegro is the most prepared for membership in the Union and "the most advanced in the enlargement process."

At a press conference in Brussels, she said that the priority of the current EC is enlargement, but that the EU does not offer shortcuts and that enlargement remains a merit-based process.

Kalas, as reported by the Mina agency, said that the accession of new members by 2030 is a realistic goal.

EC President Ursula von der Leyen said that the institution she leads is more committed than ever to "making enlargement a reality".

"Because a larger Union means a stronger and more influential Europe on the world stage. But this process must and will remain based on merit," she underlined.