The opposition will be held responsible if as many chapters as the government has set are not closed by the end of the year, said Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević, as well as her colleagues from the Europe Now Movement (PES).
The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the Civic Movement URA counter that the government is blocking the European path, and that instead of dealing with the opposition, it should read the messages from Brussels better.
They said they were in favor of adopting laws that are important for the European path, but that they would not support simulating it.
The government has defined a plan and schedule for closing six chapters this year, and if this does not happen, MPs will be held responsible.
This was recently announced by the Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević, and she explained to Television Vijesti that due to the opposition's boycott, a set of laws important for closing Chapter 4, which relates to the free movement of capital, has been pending in the Parliament since December.
In her PES, they repeat the same and point out that Montenegro is facing a historic opportunity.
"All doors are open to us, the European Union wants us to become a progressive society that will become part of that big family and usher Montenegro into the next era of its history," said Jovan Subotić, PES MP.
The opposition was suspended from the Parliament for 3 days on February 15rd, after it refused to allow sessions to be held due to the decision to terminate the mandate of constitutional judge Dragana Đuranović. They claim that the government is blocking Montenegro's European path.
"MPs could slow down or possibly stop Montenegro's European path by proposing, as was the case last year, a resolution that would deepen the crisis in relations with our neighbors, or by sending a message once again that the Constitution of Montenegro means nothing to them," said Ivan Vuković, a DPS MP.
"Who is responsible for closing three chapters in December instead of four? So, the parliamentary majority is responsible," said Ana Novaković Đurović, MP for the URA Party.
Vuković suggests that the minister, instead of dealing with opposition MPs, pay attention to the messages from Brussels, where, he says, they are concerned about the presence of anti-European forces in the government and the ruling majority.
"So, the behavior of Mr. Mandić and Knežević, which is why Croatia blocked one of the chapters that we planned to close in December last year. We said that as far as we are concerned, the adoption, I repeat, of European laws, of everything that is important for the dynamics of that process, is not at all disputable," said Vuković.
The URA GP is telling the Government that projections regarding the potential closure of six chapters should be made on the basis of certain activities.
"What will not have our support is simulating the European path, those half-reforms, not complete reforms, and of course the disruption of bilateral relations with our neighbors, which this government is persistently doing," said Novaković Đurović.
Government representatives emphasize that everyone should be on the same task.
"The European Union and Montenegro's entry is a rallying point for both the parliamentary majority and the parliamentary opposition. And I think we must not jeopardize that process," said Subotić.
By the end of the year, it is planned to close chapters (3) – which relates to the Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services, (4) – Free Movement of Capital, (5) – Public Procurement, (6) – Commercial Law, (11) – Agriculture and Rural Development and (13) – Fisheries.
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