New negotiating structure in line with the revised methodology

The Montenegrin Cabinet, at today's session, adopted the Information on progress in chapters under the cluster approach, with the aim of defining early integration measures and the state of negotiations from the prism of 6 thematic units, as well as the Information on formation of working groups for programming the EU Pre-Accession Assistance Instrument for 2021-2027 prepared by the Office for European Integration.

The Cabinet, in accordance with the previous conclusions of the Negotiations Collegium, considered proposals for the optimal functioning of the Working Group for Negotiations in Chapter 23 - Justice, Freedom and Security and instructed the Office for European Integration to prepare the proposal of the Working Group Decision, headed by the newly appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights Bojan Božović.

Chief Negotiator Zorka Kordić pointed out that after the political intergovernmental conference between Montenegro and the EU, the Office for European Integration made a preliminary analysis of progress in chapters using a cluster approach that can serve as a basis for further work of the negotiating structure and identification of the largest possible range of early integration measures. Given the new moment in the negotiation process shaped by the new methodology, the Office for European Integration proposed that, in addition to the 33 heads of working groups that form the operational core of the process, the future new negotiating structure should be structured in such a way that the Negotiating Group is conceived according to the clusters for which the negotiators will be in charge.

Although in May 2020, Montenegro accepted the revised methodology of negotiations with the EU as a political initiative that fits into the existing negotiating framework between Montenegro and the EU from 2012, and wants to show by its example that it yields results, our country is in the unique position as the only candidate for membership with open all chapters of the acquis communautaire, for which clusters are inapplicable in terms of opening chapters, but have the added value of identifying early integration measures before EU membership.

At today's session, the Cabinet considered and adopted the Information on the need to form working groups for the programming of the EU Pre-Accession Assistance Instrument for the period 2021-2027 (IPA III).

National IPA Coordinator Kordić pointed out that within the programming of the IPA III financial perspective, EUR 14.162 billion will be allocated for the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for the period 2021-2027 for all countries benefiting from IPA support. In order to prepare well for the use of funds, the Office for European Integration proposed the establishment of inter-ministerial working groups for programming and line ministries to coordinate working groups for four areas of support: Rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy; Good governance, alignment with the acquis, strategic communication and good neighbourly relations; Green agenda and sustainable integration; Competitiveness and inclusive growth.