Session of College for Negotiations on Montenegro's Accession to EU

Podgorica, Montenegro (27 December 2016) -- College for Negotiations on Montenegro's Accession to the EU held earlier today its regular session. Alongside the College members  and deputy prime ministers, Zoran Pažin, Milutin Simović and Rafet Husović, and Minister of European Affairs Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, the session was also attended by Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović, as well as presidents of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Council, Supreme State Prosecutor and Chief Special Prosecutor, Vesna Medenica, Mladen Vukčević, Ivica Stanković and Milivoje Katnić.

Members of the College agreed that the opening of the two new chapters in negotiations with the EU is the culmination of intensive work and results achieved during 2016, and pointed out that the focus in 2017 will be placed on the opening of the remaining seven chapters, fulfilment of measures from the action plans for chapters 23 and 24, and the gradual closing of the negotiating chapters, through the finalisation of the reforms initiated in all areas.

As to the rule of law, the College reviewed the past activities and commitments in the areas of justice, fundamental rights and the fight against corruption and organised crime that will lead to the achievement of results.

Members of the Collegium also discussed the status of fulfilment of initial benchmarks in Chapter 8 - Competition and Chapter 17 - Economic and Monetary Union towards opening negotiations in these chapters.

When it comes to Chapter 27 - Environment, the College noted that the adoption of the National Strategy for the transposition, implementation and enforcement of the acquis in the field of environment and climate change with the Action Plan for the period 2016 - 2020 has fulfilled the initial benchmark in this area, and that Montenegro expects the chapter to be open.