European Parliament praises Montenegro’s progress, calls for more hard work

European Parliament (EP) adopted Wednesday, 10 March, the resolution on Montenegro in which it welcomes the European Council’s decision to grant Montenegro EU candidate status and expresses hope that accession talks could begin this year.

The resolution commends the results Montenegro has achieved to date, paying special attention to the country’s hard work in finalising its legal and constitutional framework and implementing economic reforms, as well as to the “general consensus and high priority given to European integration by the government and opposition parties.”

EP rapporteur Charles Tannock said on this occasion that ‘’Montenegro remains a good news story in the Western Balkans,” adding that “Montenegro should be judged solely on merit, facts and achievements. The onus is now on Montenegro to meet the EU’s expectations, especially in combating corruption and organised crime,” he concluded.

However, the resolution voices several concerns in particular regarding corruption, organised crime, discrimination and media freedom. It states that corruption is still commonplace, notably in the fields of construction, privatisation and public procurements. In addition, organised crime, especially as regards money-laundering and smuggling, remains an important issue for Montenegro to deal with, the MPs agreed.

As to minority and human rights, the EP welcomes the “generally good inter-ethnic relations and good general protection of minority rights,” but it also calls on the authorities to improve the living conditions of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minorities, as well as to include more women in decision-making process.

The resolution also calls for “further steps to ensure independence and professionalism of media outlets,” focusing on the disproportionate fines that can be imposed for defamation, and calls for investigation in cases of intimidation and violence on journalists and civil society activists.