Brussels, 29/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 29 March, the Parliament welcomed the decision made by the European Council to fix as an objective the opening of accession negotiations with Montenegro in June 2012. The Parliament also called on member states to refrain from unduly or inappropriately delaying the opening of these negotiations, given that Montenegro has accomplished significant progress up until now in respecting the criteria.
In the 2011 follow-up report on Montenegro by Charles Tannock (ECR, UK), which MEPs adopted by a very large majority (537 in favour, 38 against, with 56 abstentions), MEPs called on the country to make further efforts to apply reforms, particularly with regard to the rule of law and fundamental rights. MEPs consider that most of the effort should focus on action to tackle corruption, which is very widespread in many domains, as well as organised crime. They also called on the authorities to persevere in their efforts to carry out their obligations under the stabilisation and association agreement.
Parliament would like to see greater progress made in regard to transparency of the legislative process, with greater involvement of civil society in the elaboration of policies and legislation. It calls on the government to rectify “immediately” the main shortcomings that continue to obstruct the effective functioning of the administrative system and to enhance the independence and judicial accountability of the legal system. MEPS call on the country to carry out far-reaching investigations into affairs involving physical violence and intimidation against journalists and discrimination against Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minorities. The Parliament expressed its satisfaction with the country's commitment and constructive role played in enhancing regional stability and good relations with its neighbours.
During the previous day's debate, MEPs highlighted the most significant progress made in Montenegro, whilst calling for further efforts to be made to tackle corruption. Ivo Vajgl (ALDE, Slovenia) would like to see the accession negotiations begin “in June or at the beginning of July… it is important that this country continues on the EU track”. Charles Tannock, the rapporteur, stressed that Montenegro was proving a success with regard to the accession process, which was obviously encouraging.
Göran Farm, speaking on behalf of the S&D, said that Montenegro deserved their congratulations. He emphasised the progress made on fundamental priorities and the country's participation in local stability. Nonetheless, he warned that there was still much do and many significant challenges to meet with regard to the legal arena, the fight against corruption, organised crime, smuggling, dialogue with civil society and the unions and freedom of the media. Reaffirming the support of her group for finalising negotiations, Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/EFA, Austria) underlined the importance of the issue of corruption, “particularly with regard to publicly owned companies in the water and electricity sectors”.
Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL, Greece) explained that “negotiations must provide an opportunity for attempting to find solutions to economic and social problems in order to put in place a modern democracy and fight organised crime”. Monica Luisa Macovei (EPP, Romania) drew the debate to a close and underlined that it was necessary to focus on the fight against “high-level corruption, among political leaders”. She also explained that it was good to make progress in reform, particularly in the area of the legal system and funding for public procurement, but that “application is the key element”. (CG/transl.fl)