Negotiations Collegium: There is no relaxation on path to EU

 

Podgorica, Montenegro (24 December 2018) -- The results achieved by Montenegro in terms of European integration are encouraging, but also obligatory, and in the time to come, activities to achieve results in all areas need to be intensified in order to attain a key state objective - EU membership, today's meeting of the Collegium for Negotiations on the Accession of Montenegro to the EU, chaired by Prime Minister Duško Marković, highlighted.

"Good results on the European path should not be an excuse for relaxation. On the contrary, in the coming months, we must intensify work on the creation of even more tangible results in the field of the fight against corruption and organised crime and meet the criteria that lead to the fulfillment of obligations to close several chapters. I expect from the entire negotiating structure maximum commitment and responsibility in fulfilling the obligations assumed and respecting the set deadlines," said the Prime Minister.

Considering the situation in the area of ​​the rule of law, members of the Collegium underscored the positive results in this field and especially highlighted the success in combating organised crime and the fight against human trafficking. The meeting commended inter-institutional cooperation and a positive impulse given in this respect by the new head of the Police, and highlighted the results of this body and the Special State Prosecutor's Office.

It was agreed to further improve legislation in the next year in order to enable the law enforcement agencies to effectively prosecute all forms of crime. In 2019, the particular attention will be paid to further reform of the judiciary, as well as  securing a better environment for the work of the media and resolving attacks on journalists and media assets.

The members of the Collegium discussed the current situation and planned activities for achieving internal readiness to close chapters 6, 7, 10, 20, 21 and 28,  fulfilment of obligations from Montenegro's Programme of Accession to the European Union in 2018 and the drafting of Montenegro's Programme of Accession to the European Union 2019-2020, as well as the review of the coordination system in the framework of European integration. The meeting agreed on the activities that will lead to meeting the final criteria, i.e., fulfiling obligations for closing the chapters.

The session was attended by the members of the Collegium, deputy prime ministers Milutin Simović, Rafet Husovic and Zoran Pažin, Foreign Minister Srđan Darmanović and Chief Negotiator Aleksandar Drljević.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić, Minister of Economy Dragica Sekulić, Minister of Finance Darko Radunović, Minister of Human and Minority Rights Mehmed Zenka, Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs Osman Nurković, Minister of Public Administration Suzana Pribilović, President of the Supreme Court Vesna Medenica, Supreme State Prosecutor Ivica Stankovic, Special State Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic, Head of Anti-Corruption Agency Sreten Radonjic,Head of the Police Veselin Veljović and the Director General of the Directorate for Justice in the Ministry of Justice Marijana Laković.