An accession treaty with stronger safeguards is not an expression of distrust towards candidates for membership in the European Union (EU), but a lesson learned from previous enlargements and part of a broader policy of preserving the stability and credibility of the EU, which is why Montenegro sees it as a framework that strengthens mutual trust, not as a limitation.
This was told to "Vijesti" by the Minister of European Affairs. Maida Gorcevic, commenting on the announcement of the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos that Montenegro's accession treaty with the EU should be the first in a "new generation" of treaties, with stronger protective mechanisms that, in the event of a setback in the rule of law, would "have teeth" and "act seriously".
At the enlargement conference in Tallinn on Friday, the Commissioner said that there must be no "Trojan horses" and that the EU must be protected from steps backwards.
"The lesson from 2004 is that we must have safeguards that ensure that new members play by the rules and that the integrity of our Union is preserved, even after five, ten, 20 years," Kos said.
She added that if the EU cannot offer convincing answers to this, it will not have sufficient public support needed for enlargement.
Responding to a question from "Vijesti" whether she was acceptable to a "new generation" of treaties with stronger protection mechanisms, Gorčević said that, taking into account that Montenegro's negotiations with the EU have been conducted according to a new methodology since 2020, it is quite natural that the Accession Treaty should also be "adapted to that methodology and the circumstances in which the Union finds itself today."
"The last EU enlargement was 13 years ago, when Croatia became a member in 2013. Since then, numerous internal and foreign policy circumstances have changed - from security challenges and geopolitical crises, to the experiences that the Union itself has gained in preserving its fundamental values," she assessed.
As she added, it was precisely these experiences that led to changes in the negotiating framework.
"A new cluster negotiation structure has been introduced, with a special focus on the core cluster, namely the rule of law. In addition, more precise mechanisms for monitoring progress in this area, such as IBAR, have been developed, ensuring that reforms are measurable and sustainable. In this context, it is understandable that the Accession Treaty itself reflects the new reality and includes stronger safeguard mechanisms that could potentially be activated in the event of serious setbacks. This is not an expression of distrust towards the candidates, but a lesson learned from previous enlargements and part of a broader policy of preserving the stability and credibility of the Union," he explains.
According to her, Montenegro sees this as a framework that strengthens mutual trust, not as a limitation.
"Our goal is a sustainable and responsible membership, based on consistent respect for European rules and values," believes Gorčević.
She confirmed to "Vijesti" that they are continuously discussing this topic with representatives of the European Commission, but also with EU member states, because the drafting of the Accession Treaty is a process that implies the full involvement of both the Commission and the member states.
"At the moment, the focus is on technical and legal preparations for the start of drafting the Treaty, including the formation of working groups - one from the Montenegrin side and the other representing the EU. These groups will consider in detail all issues arising from future membership, including the rights and obligations of Montenegro as a member state," she told Vijesti.
Gorčević adds that consultations are also underway with the current EU Council presidency, Cyprus, to ensure that the process starts on time.
"It is important to emphasize that the accession treaty is not viewed in isolation, but as the final phase of a multi-year process of harmonization with the acquis and European standards. Our approach is open and constructive - our goal is for all issues to be precisely defined and harmonized, so that Montenegro's membership is stable, sustainable and fully aligned with EU rules and values," said the minister.
Montenegro began negotiations with the EU in 2012 and has so far provisionally closed 13 chapters, out of a total of 33. The government's goal is to close all remaining chapters this year, so that the country can become an EU member in 2028.
Gorčević recently visited Cyprus, where she stated that the country, during its presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), will provide all support so that Montenegro can close the negotiation chapters in which the final benchmarks have been met and ensure the start of drafting the Accession Treaty with Montenegro.
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