POSP: Seasonal visa waivers incompatible with the EU acquis

The European Union (EU)-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAC) has called on Montenegro to make progress in aligning with the EU visa policy, assessing that seasonal visa waivers are incompatible with the EU acquis.

This is stated in the POSP Declaration, which was adopted today, after a two-day meeting in Strasbourg.

The declaration confirmed support for Montenegro's accession to the EU and welcomed the significant progress achieved in the previous period, but, among other things, pointed out the importance of ensuring full access to the archives of the former Yugoslav State Security Service (UDBA) and the Counter-Intelligence Service (KOS) of the JNA, including the archives located in Podgorica.

Montenegro is encouraged to maintain the goal of completing negotiations by the end of the year, while EU institutions and member states are called upon to begin internal preparations for accession, including the drafting of the Accession Treaty.

The regular functioning of the Parliament has been identified as crucial, as Montenegro faces a large amount of work on its European path in 2026.

All political actors in the country are therefore encouraged to continue to engage constructively and inclusively, to focus on the overarching goal of concluding the negotiations, and not to allow short-term political divisions to jeopardize the existing momentum.

Social and economic actors are called upon to increase their engagement in preparations for accession to the European Union and it is expressed that the discussion on identity issues in the multiethnic society of Montenegro requires broad, inclusive and long-term conversations, in order to ensure common interest and avoid polarization.

The rule of law remains crucial, in particular fulfilling the closing benchmarks for chapters 23 and 24, judicial appointments and strengthening the track record in the fight against high-level corruption and organised crime.

The recent appointment of the Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption was welcomed and the need to improve the track record in terms of investigations, prosecutions and final judgments in cases of high-level corruption and organised crime was recalled.

The declaration recalls that amendments to the Constitution regarding the independence of the judiciary are one of the conditions for obtaining the final benchmarks under Chapter 23, and expects Montenegro to adopt them through a broad consultative process.

It is emphasized that resolving outstanding issues of property rights, including restitution, is essential for fulfilling Montenegro's obligations under Chapter 23, and represents a criterion for closing negotiations in the area of ​​fundamental rights.

Harmonize the laws on the National Security Agency and internal affairs with the EU acquis

The POSP notes the initiated reforms in the security sector and welcomes the results that have already been achieved, but emphasizes the need to carefully monitor the implementation of the Law on Internal Affairs and the Law on the National Security Agency and calls on Montenegro to fully harmonize these laws with the acquis communautaire in the area of ​​personal data protection.

It reiterates its call for the completion of electoral reform in Montenegro through the full implementation of the OSCE/ODIHR and GRECO recommendations, in particular in the area of ​​financing of political entities and election campaigns, as well as the updating of the voter register. It welcomes the adoption of a new law on the prohibition of discrimination, which is fully aligned with the EU acquis and European standards, and the adoption of the National Energy and Climate Plan of Montenegro by the end of 2025, but calls on Montenegro to accelerate reforms, in particular with regard to reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports in light of recent geopolitical events, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and accelerating electrification. The POSP considers that measures in the area of ​​sustainable tourism and diversification of the tourist offer, in order to reduce dependence on seasonal fluctuations, are necessary for the resilience of the Montenegrin economy.

Montenegro's consistent and full alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, including restrictive measures, was welcomed, as were the EU and Montenegro's efforts to strengthen the country's resilience to foreign information manipulation and interference.

It is recalled that good neighborly relations and regional cooperation are an important value and political basis for the European path of every candidate.

The POSP welcomes the dialogue with Croatia "in good faith with a view to resolving outstanding issues, in the spirit of European values ​​and in line with the EU acquis, and to achieving progress under Chapter 31 on the Common Foreign and Security Policy".

The importance of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean is reiterated and, in this context, the significant role of the Adriatic-Ionian macroregion is recalled, which serves both as an instrument of internal cohesion and as a foreign policy tool, contributing to the acceleration of the integration of candidate countries into the EU.