PM Marković: EC report does not indicate stagnation, Montenegro remains leader of negotiation process

Podgorica, Montenegro (26 June 2019) -- Prime Minister Duško Marković reiterated in the Parliament earlier today that the recently published European Commission’s Report on Montenegro is a direct, realistic and useful cross-section of the situation in all negotiating areas, that it does not indicate stagnation, and that Montenegro continues to be a leader of the EU integration process.

"The European Commission’s report is not negative. It does not indicate stagnation, and quite surely Montenegro remains in the position of leader of the negotiations with the European Union, ahead of the countries of the region," said the Prime Minister responding to the statements by the Club of MPs of the Social Democratic Party that the EC report indicates that the State is entering a phase of stagnation or even a downturn in the process of European integration.

"The report is a direct, realistic and useful cross-section of the situation in all negotiating areas. ... In particular, unlike last year's report, we have no regression in any area. It points out that in some areas there is no progress. But in most areas, it is necessary to objectively analyse everything that has been noted, as it shows the dedicated work and efforts invested. And they are not negligible," the Prime Minister stated.

Speaking about the challenge of corruption, the Prime Minister said that the Anti-Corruption Agency had established a good balance of results and that that is what he communicated to European partners.

"We were able to get to the point when corruption is not at the level on which it was, and it was present in weak and destroyed institutions, as a consequence of the recent past of the entire region," the Prime Minister said.

He underlined said that the authorities, most often considered as the Government in political debate, hold significant responsibility, but the European Commission's Report does relate to all branches of government.

"The assessments in the Report relate to those who perform both judicial and legislative power. This responsibility goes beyond the scope of responsibility of either the Government or the ruling coalition. That is why you can ask your colleagues some of these questions. There is a need for constructive critics by the opposition, and not just a nihilistic view of things, and I will be persistent in calling on all political actors, as well as society stakeholders, to work together to advance the Montenegrin society," Prime Minister Duško Marković concluded.