Luxembourg, 26/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 26 June, the European foreign affairs ministers recommended the opening of accession negotiations with Montenegro. Welcoming the recent European Commission report on the progress of the country in the implementation of reforms with “particular focus on the area of the rule of law and fundamental rights, especially the fight against corruption and organised crime”, the Council “endorsed the Commission's assessment that Montenegro has achieved the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria…to start accession negotiations”. “The Council decided, subject to the endorsement by the European Council, that accession negotiations should be opened on 29 June 2012”, the Council conclusions state.
The ministers nonetheless urged Montenegro to address several concerns, “especially the independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and the need for Montenegro to step up its efforts in order to establish a solid track record in the course of the negotiations”. Concerned about organised crime, the EU27 ask Europol to present a report on the situation with regard to organised crime in Montenegro, and ask the Commission to ensure that this contribution is taken into account in forthcoming reports. While Belgium and Germany seemed in favour of opening negotiations, Sweden openly expressed its worries on the situation with regard to organised crime. “We are, for our part, but also in several other member states, particularly worried by the issue of organised crime in Montenegro … It is a situation which we have in more or less all of the Balkan countries … but there are a few specific points in Montenegro which must be taken into account. The Commission has said that the country has made progress; which is true, but … more is needed and requested”, said Swedish minister Carl Bildt (our translation). Stefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement, said on Twitter than he was delighted with the Council's decision to open accession negotiations. (CG/transl.fl)