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Chief Negotiator Drljević: Obligations arising fro...
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Chief Negotiator Drljević: Obligations arising from negotiation process do not suffer, we expect Chapter 8 to open
Published on: May 1, 2020 • 8:00 PM Author: PR Service
Podgorica, Montenegro (1 May 2020) -- The dynamics of implementing obligations from the negotiation process do not suffer, despite the restrictive measures in the organisation of work in Montenegro and the EU Member States, said Chief Negotiator with European Union Aleksandar Drljević, hoping that Brussels positive attitude towards enlargement policy will be confirmed by opening Chapter 8 - Competition.
"Taking into account the fact that negotiating agenda is practically woven through all daily activities of the relevant entities in all negotiating areas, we can say that in the current circumstances we meet our obligations, in communication with the European Commission, Member States, the EU Delegation in Podgorica, to the full possible extent and in line with the rules, procedures and values of the EU," said the Chief Negotiator, appearing on the programme "Europe," on Radio of Montenegro.
He recalled that Chapter 8 - Competition is the only remaining unopened chapter in Montenegrin negotiation process with the EU. The European Union conditioned opening of this chapter with meeting five initial benchmarks, which is also the highest number of initial benchmarks, in regard to individual chapters.
"All EU member states gave us all the green lights on the report on meeting the initial benchmarks and in respect of that we presented our Negotiation position, while on their side the European Commission prepared a Joint Negotiating position, and we receive information on giving green lights to open this chapters, from day to day. I sincerely hope that the positive attitude that has existed, regarding the enlargement policy in relation to the opening of negotiations with the North Macedonia and Albania, will continue when it comes to Montenegro, with the opening of Chapter 8," Chief Negotiator Drljević pointed out.
He considers the March decision on opening accession negotiations with Albania and the North Macedonia is an indicator that, even in these difficult circumstances, the EU is ready to make strategic enlargement decisions. "And the decision to hold the EU-Western Balkans Summit on 6 May sends a clear and additional signal that both, the EU and the current EU Council Presidency, the Republic of Croatia, are making a major effort to fulfill the key activity of their initial Presidency Agenda and not "drop" a highly persistent several- months work on enlargement policy."
The Chief Negotiator assessed holding the meeting, as very significant, although the talks and discussion will be limited because of the video format, since the Summit will show the EU's commitment and dedication to the project of the EU enlargement into the Western Balkans, and the unity that the Member States have on the subject.
"I am convinced that the challenge of the coronavirus binds us even more firmly to the EU and further convinces that our key foreign policy priority was justified. In its actions, the EU itself shows that enlargement policy has no alternative. Only by a common commitment of the member states, the EC and us who are in the process of accession, we can tackle this challenge. The EU has faced a number of challenges during its lifetime and successfully tackled each of them, and I sincerely believe that even this challenge will be overcome and that the result will be the full integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU," Drljević noted.
He expressed belief that following the epidemic outbreak, the EU has quickly been able to place under control what could initially may seem as 'disorientation due to shock' and send clear and loud messages about the activities that is implementing and plans to implement.
He recalled that by reallocating of appropriations under the IPA programme, the EU assisted Montenegro with EUR 53 million on the first pass.
"In addition, Montenegro can count on EUR 60 million from the EU macro-financial assistance, after this proposal of the European Commission has been adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. It concerned funds that will available over 12 months in the form of loans, on very favourable terms to help Montenegro in covering its immediate and urgent financial needs and mitigating the negative socio-economic consequences of the pandemic crisis. Signing the Joint Procurement to procure medical countermeasures on 13 April, Montenegro also formally joined the mechanism of joint procurement of medicines and medical devices at EU level that enabled us, together with the countries of the region and the Member States, to participate in the procurement of necessary equipment for healthcare," he said.
According to the Chief Negotiator, the European Commission has also demonstrated solidarity with the recent decision to accept the initiative of the Western Balkans Heads of Diplomacy to exempt our region from the EU restrictions on exports of medical devices for personal protection.
"The EU is an interlocutor and a reliable partner of Montenegro, whose support is already visible and very significant at this moment. However, it is difficult to make projections about whether the assistance we have received will be sufficient for recovery, at a time when we do not know for how long the pandemic will last and what the consequences it will leave behind. Certainly, both in the Government and the competent institutions, we are carrying out all necessary activities, in order to timely plan and respond to the challenges that the pandemic will leave behind," Drljević said.
He also emphasized that so far there is no indication that delays or deadlines could happen due to the pandemic situation, when it comes to the publication of EC annual reports.
"We have already submitted two annex to the annual report and because of the current situation, my colleagues from the European Commission have requested updated information over the past two months on what has been happening in Montenegro, and that information has been sent to Brussels and therefore my expectation is that the Report will be published, when the EC announced it, which is in June," said the Chief Negotiator.
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