Pejović: Eurobarometer confirms strong social mandate for continuation of European reforms

Data from the latest Eurobarometer, published on Europe Day, represents a strong social mandate for institutions, and especially the Parliament, to continue to deliver results on the European path, said Boris Pejović, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and member of the Presidency of the Europe Now Movement (PES).

In an interview with the MINA Agency, Pejović said that he believes that there is no formal or any other rational basis for slowing down the dynamics of the parliament's work, and thus the speed of European integration.

Asked how many laws require a two-thirds majority and which the Parliament needs to adopt by the end of the year in order to achieve the ambitious goal of closing all negotiation chapters, he stated that "when we talk about these laws, we are not just talking about parliamentary arithmetic, but about political responsibility towards the clear European commitment of citizens."

"The latest Eurobarometer, published on Europe Day, showed that 75 percent of Montenegrin citizens believe that they will benefit from membership in the European Union (EU), while 65 percent believe that the country is moving in the right direction. This is a strong social mandate for institutions, and especially the Parliament, to continue to deliver results on the European path," Pejović pointed out.

That's why, as he said, it's not just about a number of laws, but the essence is much greater than that.

"The Parliament of Montenegro has done a tremendous job on the European path in the past two years and will continue at the same pace this year, in order to complete everything that is left to us. Our goal is clear: for Montenegro to be ready to close all negotiation chapters," said Pejović.

He said that part of that work is laws that require a two-thirds majority.

"But it's not just about laws. We also have important changes to the Constitution ahead of us. We currently have several such proposals in the parliamentary procedure. So, we are not just changing individual rules, but improving the very foundations of the system — the supporting pillars of the state — in order to bring them into line with European standards," Pejović said.

As he said, one of the important changes is the abolition of immunity for members of the Government for criminal acts against official duty. "This means very simply: if someone abuses their position, accepts or gives a bribe, or commits a similar criminal act, they cannot hide behind their position. Everyone must be equal before the law — from the Prime Minister to every citizen," Pejović stated.

This, according to him, is a big difference from past practices, when functions were often used as a shield.

"We want a system in which function means responsibility, not protection from responsibility," Pejović emphasized.

He said that another important direction is strengthening the independence of the judiciary and prosecution.

"We must no longer allow the top judiciary, prosecutor's office or police to be linked to party interests or organised crime. Citizens must have confidence that the law applies equally to everyone and that institutions work in the interests of the state, not any party or individual," Pejović stressed.

There is, as he said, also the continuation of work on amendments to the Law on the Election of Councilors and Representatives, so that the election rules are further harmonized with the recommendations of international partners.

Pejović added that this is important, because fair election rules mean stronger institutions, greater stability and more citizen trust in the system.

"There will probably be more such changes by the end of the year. But the most important thing is that there is political will to complete this work. The Parliament has shown that it can work quickly and seriously when it comes to the European path. That will be the case now," Pejović said.

He pointed out that these changes are not just technical. "They mean a fairer state, more accountable government, more independent institutions and a system in which no one is above the law. That is the essence of European standards and that is the Montenegro we are building."

Asked how he would comment on the announcement by the head of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) parliamentary group, Andrija Nikolić, that the party would no longer cooperate with the parliamentary majority and would not vote for the Government's proposals until the laws on the National Security Agency (ANB) and internal affairs are withdrawn, Pejović said that, unfortunately, such exclusivity, in addition to not being good for European integration, is not good for the opposition either.

He said that the proposed constitutional changes have been agreed with the European Commission (EC), that they are part of the Reform Agenda, and that the outcome of the vote will determine whether Montenegro will receive five million euros from the EU Growth Plan.

"If all stakeholders care about taking advantage of the financial benefits, maintaining credibility and a high pace in the European integration process, then they will support reforms that are crucial for our full membership," said Pejović.

He emphasized that these are changes that have been agreed with the EU, adding that the opposition's attitude towards these proposals is actually an attitude towards European integration, and not towards daily political positioning or towards the subjects of the current majority.

Responding to the question of whether he believes that, given this announcement, it is necessary to initiate a dialogue with the DPS and other opposition parties, Pejović said that EU accession often requires a broad consensus in order to fulfill the obligations undertaken and respond to the clear aspiration of the vast majority of citizens towards a European future and a better standard of living within the EU.

"If we all agree with that, then it is necessary to move from words to actions," said Pejović.

He said that Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has repeatedly openly called on the opposition to work together on the path of European integration.

"We have always been open, and in practice we have proven that dialogue can solve numerous challenges, from the census to the election of Constitutional Court judges. So, we are not exclusive, but a constructive approach requires goodwill from all sides," added Pejović.

When asked whether the solution could be some form of mediation initiated by the EU in Montenegro, by mediating between the government and the opposition in order to reach an agreement, he replied that the EU's role is important and that various types of mediation took place even when Montenegro was not officially a candidate for full membership.

"However, the primary responsibility for the processes in the country lies with political actors from Montenegro. I am certainly sure that the EU, within its capabilities and competences, will assist Montenegro in the European integration process," said Pejović.

Responding to the question of whether amendments to the laws on internal affairs and the National Security Agency could have been delayed, and how their adoption affected the functioning and dynamics of parliament, he said that the adopted laws allow the system to finally deal more effectively with organized crime and corruption.

According to Pejović, delaying the adoption and implementation of these laws would limit the mechanisms in this fight, at a time when the domestic and international public expects concrete results in the fight against corruption and crime.

"As a reminder, the EC confirmed that consultations on draft laws took place, with advice to ensure full compliance with the EU acquis, either before adoption (of the law) or through timely harmonization before the closure of accession negotiations," Pejović stated.

He said that, in the meantime, he expects the laws to be aligned with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Law Enforcement Directive (LED).

"Therefore, all advice and expectations of the EC will be respected, and therefore I believe that there is no formal or any other rational basis for slowing down the dynamics of the work of the parliament, and thus the speed of European integration," said Pejović.

Asked whether he believes that Montenegro will be able to close the remaining negotiation chapters by the end of the year, given the dynamics since the beginning of this year, he said that optimism is justified, given the pace and quality of work of the Montenegrin administration so far, as well as confirmations coming from the most relevant EU representatives that concrete progress has been registered in the European integration process during the current Government's mandate.

According to Pejović, the process of closing chapters requires a lot of work, especially considering the ambition to close ten times more and at the same time much more demanding chapters than the number of negotiation chapters closed by all previous governments.

"However, it is crucial that there is finally focus and political will in the pursuit of Montenegro becoming a full member of the EU, and I believe that the current work will ultimately pay off, and that all citizens of Montenegro will benefit greatly from our integration into the EU," concluded Pejović.