Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković did not present any additional criteria in Tivat last week to unblock Chapter 31 (Foreign, Security and Defense Policy), and progress in negotiations between the two countries is expected soon.
This was stated in the Parliament by Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović, responding to a question from Andrija Nikolić (DPS) about the additional criteria that Croatia is seeking to meet and at what stage their fulfillment is in order to unblock Chapter 31.
Ivanovic said that, ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit on Friday in Tivat, Plenković explicitly mentioned points that are already known - compensation for former concentration camp inmates in Morinje, the Jadran ship, the border, the swimming pool in Kotor...
"These talks are proceeding as they are, the agreement of both sides is not to go public with the specifics, or rather the details of each meeting, but to bring certain things to a conclusion and then announce their results," said Ivanovic.
He reminded that some issues have been resolved (the Cultural Center in Tivat).
"So we expect that to be resolved as well, and I did not realize that additional criteria were initiated for the continuation of the process. Croatia has given the green light for all other chapters, which are closed, and for the Working Group working on the accession treaty," said Ivanovic.
Plenković told reporters in Tivat, ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, that Montenegro has made the most progress in negotiations with the EU and therefore has expectations regarding open issues between the two countries.
He reiterated that Croatia's position here is clearly mapped out and there are preconditions that, if met, will lead to further progress in Chapter 31, Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security).
Plenković said that the topic of compensation for Croatian camp inmates in Morinje is one of the key issues, and another is to continue work on finding the 14 missing persons, "who are still being treated as such, from the Homeland War."
"The third is that Montenegro should continue to prosecute war criminals, the fourth is to resolve the property rights issues of Croatian families here, who have been left without their property. This process is going quite difficult," he said.
He emphasized that they "clearly marked the position of the board in Morinj".
He also said that the issue of the name of the swimming pool in Kotor, the return of the training ship "Jadran" should be resolved, and that "talks about the border, which have been ongoing for many years, should finally be initiated."
Responding to Nikolić's second question, Ivanovic announced that from July 2024 to May 2026, he made 26 official and working visits abroad, stating that these activities contributed to strengthening Montenegro's international position and consolidating its status as the most advanced candidate for membership in the European Union.
He said that he had visited Slovenia, the USA, Romania, Hungary, Belgium, France, Germany, Armenia, Japan, North Macedonia, Spain, Estonia, Latvia, Ireland, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Argentina and Luxembourg... Nikolić asked how many official visits Ivanovic had made abroad since he took up the position of Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, which countries he had visited and what he would highlight as the main achievements.
Ivanovic said that the greatest effect of his international activities is strengthening international support for Montenegro's European integration, political trust with partner countries, and strengthening the country's position as a leading candidate for EU membership.
Nikolić asked Ivanovic why he did not visit Zagreb to contribute to resolving bilateral issues.
Ivanovic replied that it was his first visit to Zagreb as Minister (of Foreign Affairs).
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