Meeting between DPM Koprivica and Chief Negotiator Zenović on accelerating EU accession talks

Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary, and Anti-Corruption, Momo Koprivica, met with Montenegro's Chief Negotiator with the EU, Predrag Zenović.

At the outset of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica congratulated the Chief Negotiator on assuming his role and expressed satisfaction about the future collaboration. During the discussion, they exchanged views on key challenges related to accelerating the negotiation process with the European Union.

In this context, they discussed the recently adopted decision on establishing the Council for the Rule of Law and expressed expectations that the Council would diligently work towards fulfilling obligations outlined in negotiation chapters 23 and 24. DPM Koprivica also highlighted the unacceptable fact that the previous Council had not convened for a staggering 15 months, given its crucial role in the European integration process.

Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica emphasised the need to consider introducing greater control over the adoption of laws aligning with EU legal standards. He stressed that laws receiving a positive opinion from the European Commission should be adopted in the Parliament as such, and any potential amendments to these laws should involve information-sharing and consultation with the European Commission.

Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica underscored the importance of implementing GRECO recommendations and developing a Strategy to Combat Corruption, both essential for the reform of the system and accelerating the European integration of the country.

The Chief Negotiator placed particular emphasis on involving all political actors to collectively conclude the accession negotiations. During the meeting, he highlighted the significance of implementing recommendations from the OSCE/ODIHR regarding electoral environment reform.

Zenović emphasised that all efforts must now be directed towards fulfilling obligations in the rule of law domain and underscored the necessity of collaboration among political opponents concerning European integration.