The decision of President Jakov Milatović to return 25 adopted "blue" laws to the Parliament for reconsideration on Monday could slow down the closing of some negotiation chapters in March and April - "Vijesti" has learned.
Government sources say that all laws adopted on Monday with a "blue flag" (important for closing the chapter in negotiations with the EU), have the opinion of the European Commission, that a public debate was held on them, and that European directives have been incorporated into them.
The adoption of these laws represents the final benchmarks for the chapters planned for closure in March and April, said an interlocutor of "Vijesti".
He explained that the Parliament must adopt these laws on time, so that Brussels and the member states have enough time to discuss them and express their views.
"We have to meet all (the benchmarks) and submit them, (as well as) the final reports... And when that passes, an intergovernmental conference is scheduled... This is slowing us down now."
Another interlocutor from the Government explained that these are mainly European directives that must be transposed into Montenegrin legislation almost verbatim, because they are already part of the legal system of all member states.
"There is nothing to change or add if we want to join the EU."
Milatović said that he returned the laws "so that the deputies could actually read them."
"European reforms do not mean a mere show of hands in the Parliament, nor the adoption of laws without debate and discussion. Citizens expect a serious and responsible approach from MPs when passing laws that determine their daily lives," Milatović wrote on the "Iks" website.
According to the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the Speaker of the Parliament puts the returned laws back on the agenda at the first subsequent session. That session is scheduled for February 10. After that, the President of the State is, according to the regulations, obliged to sign the laws if they are re-adopted.
On Monday, the Parliament adopted 25 laws without debate, following an introductory speech by the Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević (Europe Now Movement), who outlined which regulations needed to be adopted to close certain chapters.
She stated that for the purposes of closing Chapter 1 (free movement of goods and services) it is necessary to adopt a new Law on Medicines, while for Chapter 2 (free movement of workers) amendments are needed to the Law on Civil Procedure and the Law on Social Housing. She also pointed out that in Chapter 9 (financial services) 14 laws need to be passed, and for Chapter 14 (transport policy) a law relating to contracting parties in railway transport, and that the Law on Free Zones should prohibit trade in tobacco products in free zones, which is important for Chapter 29 (customs union).
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Urgency sent to the Parliament on January 26th
On January 26, Minister without Portfolio Milutin Butorović (Europe Now Movement) sent an urgent letter to the Speaker of the Parliament Andrija Mandić (New Serbian Democracy) listing priority laws for closing the negotiation chapters scheduled for the first half of 2026.
From the urgency that "Vijesti" has insight into, it follows that the closure of Chapter 1 (free movement of goods and services), Chapter 2 (free movement of workers), Chapter 9 (Financial services), Chapter 14 (Transport policy), Chapter 28 (Consumer and health protection) and Chapter 29 (Customs Union) is planned in the first half of the year.
It is also planned to complete the commitments (adoption of several laws) necessary for the closure of Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security) by the end of the year, as well as Chapter 16 (Taxation).
The emergency statement states that Montenegro faces a crucial year in which it is planned to close all remaining negotiation chapters with the EU.
As it is added, the European Commission has clearly defined the deadlines that must be met. It is recalled that for laws covered by the deadline clearly set by the European Commission until January 31, 2026, it is necessary to ensure their adoption in the Parliament no later than February 3 of this year, "in order to enable the closure of the negotiation chapters, which, in agreement with the European Commission, are scheduled for the first half of 2026."
"I am convinced that in the coming period, the Parliament will make a full contribution to fulfilling the obligations from the European agenda and that by working together we will confirm that Montenegro knows and can seize the opportunity that lies ahead of us," said Butorović.
Montenegro has so far closed 13 chapters in negotiations with Brussels, out of a total of 33.
Reacting to Milatović's decision, Gorčević announced yesterday that the president of the state "is taking on the role of the main brake on the European path through open obstructions." She stated that the return of the law to the Parliament does not mean a new debate, but only a postponement, and that the regulations have been in the procedure for months, passed committees and received the opinion of the European Commission.
"Montenegro faces intensive work on closing 20 more chapters, which is why it is discouraging when certain political actors, with the intention of harming the current government, knowingly harm the country and its European path," said Gorčević.
CDT: 20 laws adopted in an hour and 11 minutes
The Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) warned yesterday that the collapse of the role of the Parliament is reaching a new peak at a time when some MPs, without any problem, "silently" adopt as many as 25 laws in the plenum.
CDT Deputy Executive Director Milena Gvozdenović said that this further deepens the dilemma that has been raised repeatedly in the Parliament itself - whether the MPs really read these laws or just voted for them.
"At the first session of the extraordinary session, 20 laws were adopted at the proposal of the Government, in an hour and 11 minutes, with presentations by the Minister of European Affairs and three opposition MPs. The second session lasted 16 minutes - enough to vote on five more laws at the proposal of MPs," said Gvozdenović.
She recalled that at the session, Gorčević said that these are key European laws, which are "not just technical, but systemic."
"However, for some MPs, they are not important enough to have a serious parliamentary debate about them and for citizens to be informed about their content in that way," Gvozdenović assessed.
She added that among the laws that were not discussed at the plenary session were, among others, the Law on Medicines with 360 articles, the Law on Consumer Protection, which, with accompanying materials, has 435 pages, the Law on Capital Market, to which 32 government amendments totaling 189 pages arrived just two days before the start of the session...
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