Brussels, 04/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - France and Germany plan to postpone the beginning of talks for Montenegro's membership of the EU, according to the Montenegrin daily Vijesti on Thursday 3 November, which cites an unofficial document. In the document, which is reported to have been sent to the European Commission and other member states, France and Germany underline that the decision to open talks should not be taken in December but during a later European Council “perhaps in June 2012”.
Without confirming or refuting the information, a French diplomatic source told Agence Europe that “there is no Franco-German stance on the issue”. He explained that France received with interest the recommendations of the Commission on opening talks but highlights the “question of timetable”, specifying that “December is a little too soon”. “Is it possible to take things forward after December without knowing whether reforms adopted” by the country in question over recent weeks “have been set in place?” he asked. German diplomacy, for its part, has said that, as a matter of principle, it does not comment on documents that are not official.
According to Vijesti, Paris and Berlin would like new conditions to be defined, especially regarding the fight against corruption and organised crime. The two member states are also said to have specified that implementation of the laws on the public sector and electoral policy is necessary.
The European Commission gave a favourable opinion regarding the launch of talks in its follow-up report, published on 12 October. Peter Stano, the spokesman for Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle, said he does not comment on the position taken by member states. He was speaking at a press briefing on 4 November. He added: “Time is needed for discussion, reflection, for reaching consensus among member states”, and “one must take the aspirations of everyone into account”. (CG/transl.jl)