The low level of implementation of obligations from the Reform Agenda 2024–2027, especially in the area of the rule of law, indicates a lack of genuine political will and weak institutional capacities, which slows down the process of European integration, the Center for Civic Education (CCE) assessed.
CCE said that this increases the risk of delays in withdrawing funds from the European Union (EU) Instrument for Reforms and Growth for the Western Balkans, which allocated 383,5 million euros to Montenegro.
As they stated, the Government adopted the first drafts of reform measures in December 2023, the final version in September last year, and the European Commission gave official approval a month later.
CCE explained that the Reform Agenda contains 130 quantitative and qualitative measures in four priority areas: business environment and private sector development; digital and energy/green transition; human resources development; and rule of law and fundamental rights.
"In the area of business environment, 34 reform steps are foreseen, of which three out of seven planned have been completed by June this year, including the establishment of a register of state-owned enterprises and companies with state participation, increasing the transparency of intergovernmental agreements and contracts, and adopting the Spatial Plan of Montenegro," CCE pointed out.
They pointed out that key measures, such as improving the integrity of inspections, revising the anti-corruption framework, and reforming corporate governance in state-owned enterprises, as noted by the EU, have not been implemented.
CCE stated that the second area, focused on digital infrastructure and the transition to sustainable energy sources, envisages 42 reform steps, and that seven out of twelve planned measures have been completed by mid-year.
This, as they explained, includes the liberalization of the electricity market, the adoption of the National Broadband Infrastructure Development Plan, the improvement of e-government, the harmonization of the Law on Information Security with the NIS2 Directive, and measures to protect energy-vulnerable consumers.
"However, key steps such as the full transposition of the electricity integration package, the adoption of renewables legislation (RED II Directive), auctioning of at least 400 MW of renewable energy capacity, building renovation strategies and operational structures for a just transition are delayed," the statement said.
It is stated that the third area, human resources development, has 24 reform steps, focused on education, employment and social inclusion.
"So far, only one measure has been envisaged, which has been implemented, and it relates to defining a minimum package of guaranteed social services and its financing through the Deinstitutionalization Strategy," the statement added.
The CCE said that the weakest results were recorded in the fourth area - the rule of law and fundamental rights, crucial for progress in negotiations with the EU, for which a total of 30 reform measures are envisaged, especially in the field of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organized crime, and freedom of expression and the media.
"During this period, only one of the five planned steps was implemented - the appointment of the President of the Supreme Court, although even this was not accompanied by the necessary level of transparency," CCE stated.
The non-governmental organization (NGO) pointed out that constitutional amendments have not been implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the European Commission, the Venice Commission and GRECO, data exchange between the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) and other authorities has not been established, nor has the visa-free regime with countries for which the EU requires a visa regime been abolished.
"In short, the achieved results range from 20 percent in the rule of law, over 43 percent in the business environment to 58 percent in the digital and energy transition, while in human resources development, the only planned measure was implemented," the statement said.
CCE, as reminded by the NGO, previously warned that the slow pace of reforms is costing Montenegro European money and credibility, and that the state has so far withdrawn only 38 percent of the total value of reform measures, or 18,3 out of the planned 52,1 million euros.
"It is also indicative that the Government tried to deceive the European Commission, claiming that 17 measures had been implemented, while the European Commission, after its evaluation, confirmed only 12 measures as implemented," said the CCE.
As they pointed out, although the money can be withdrawn next year, the current delay indicates that Montenegro will end the year with a significant backlog, considering 32 more measures planned by the end of the year, with a previous backlog of 13 measures.
The CCE said that there is no publicly available data on the Government's activities aimed at dynamizing this process, nor on the responsibility of institutions and managers for the delay so far.
"The delay indicates a lack of political commitment and weaknesses in public administration, where nepotism, clientelism, and party recruitment continue to limit the capacity to implement reforms," the CCE assessed.
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