Brussels, 31/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Ambassador of Montenegro to the EU, Ivan Lekovic, granted Agence EUROPE an interview. (CG)
Agence EUROPE (AE): Could you remind us where Montenegro is in the accession process to the EU?
Ivan Lekovic (IL): On the 29 June this year, we had the first IGC (Inter-governmental Conference) when Montenegro and the European Union officially opened the negotiation process for membership of the EU.
AE: When did you apply for membership to the EU?
IL: We submitted our application for membership of the EU in December 2008. In November 2010, the European Commission gave a positive opinion. Montenegro was granted candidate status in December 2010.
AE: Where are you in the negotiation process?
IL: We opened the screening process for Chapters 23 (Judiciary, and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security) before we officially opened the negotiation process. The Commission has launched a new approach which gives us a possibility to be better prepared for the day when the country will become a member of the EU.
AE: Do you know when the Chapters 23 and 24 will be opened?
IL: We don't know the exact date, it's a process. Now, there is a screening process under way. Afterwards, we will receive the report from the Commission with an assessment of the state of play in these chapters.
The European Council decided that Montenegro will open the negotiation process on 29 June and stated in the conclusions that Europol should prepare a report on the state of play in the areas of organised crime and corruption, which will be an integral part of the European Commission's analytical report.
Montenegrin authorities (Ministry of Justice) have already established official contact with Europol. As agreed, a mission of Europol representatives will visit Montenegro during August, in order to obtain the required information.
AE: Montenegro is a small country (620,000 people) how do you prepare yourselves for these negotiations?
IL: We are learning from the experience of Croatia, Malta and Estonia. At the time of Yugoslavia, Montenegro had state institutions. Therefore, it was not so difficult to operate as an independent country after independence in 2006.
At the time of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro until 2006, we had already started the process of European integration together with Serbia. One of the key reasons for our independence was the European integration process, not in a sense that we wanted to be faster as a small country but because the process would be easier if a country could take care of its own interests independently, not in a union with Serbia.
In parallel, we have been implementing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). With a view to its successful implementation, the work is organised within the structure of SAA Council, Committee and Sub-committees. The goal of this process is to prepare Montenegro for future EU membership.
The matter of accession to the EU and its precise date is not questionable. The key goal is to introduce European standards and values in our society.
AE: So you are not afraid it could take more than 10 years, as it did for Croatia?
IL: We are not concerned about the accession date. We are thinking about short-term priorities and long-term priorities. The short-term priority is to start with the screening process for all other chapters starting from September 2012 and to open other chapters for negotiation.
AE: Even if the European Council decided to open negotiations, it has said that it is worried about the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption and organised crime. What are you doing in these areas?
IL: That's why we are opening negotiations with Chapters 23 and 24. Chapter 23 deals with “judiciary and fundamental rights” and we have already had explanatory and bilateral screening. Now the Commission is acquainted with the state of play in the judiciary area. Organised crime is not just a problem of Montenegro, it is the problem of all Western Balkan countries - and not only them. The negotiation process will help Montenegro to improve the capacities of state institutions to fight against organised crime and corruption on a more efficient way.
Additionally, the fight against organised crime and corruption is a process. The Government of Montenegro is showing that it is capable of tackling those issues. That was recognised on 29 June when the negotiation process was officially opened.
AE: During the last Council, Sweden openly said it was worried about organised crime. How are your relationships with Sweden and the other member states?
IL: Montenegro has excellent relations with all member states. It has partnership relations with all countries from the region. There are no open issues with any country. The situation with Sweden is the same. From that point of view, it is very easy to be a Montenegrin diplomat.
Montenegro has perfect relations with the 12 “new” member states. The countries covered by the enlargements of 2004 and 2007 understand the problems and difficulties that we are facing because they were in a similar position not so long ago.
AE: Are you closer to the new countries?
IL: Yes, we have very close and friendly relations. As I already mentioned, the Czech Republic, Poland or Estonia will better understand the challenges we are facing during the integration process in comparison with France, Spain or Great Britain.
AE: Your currency is the euro. What are the consequences of the euro crisis on your economy?
IL: We use the euro and, of course, we are not in the euro-zone. We are influenced by the overall economic situation. Foreign direct investments are crucial for the further development of Montenegro. From 2006 and until 2009, even 2010, we have had an important inflow of FDI. We have started some important investment projects which were stopped or postponed. Now, investors and interested companies are again slowly returning. The euro has brought fiscal and financial stability to Montenegro. We are very eager to continue to use it. There are no exchange fees, paying is much easier and it is important for a tourist country.
AE: The EU is in crisis, some people have said it's a sinking ship. Why does Montenegro want to join it?
IL: I don't agree at all. The EU is a great idea and a great project. In any project you face some crisis periods and this is one of them. The EU is a group of 27 very different countries; therefore it is not easy to make a compact shape of one supranational entity. Numerous EU decisions were made by consensus and consensus is not always the best solution and that's why the EU is never ending story.
AE: What do the Montenegrin people think about the EU?
IL: We have a high percentage of pro-European oriented citizens. Nobody thinks that the EU is an idea or a project that's going to disappear, it may have another shape or another reality, maybe different from now, but it's sure that it will survive this crisis.
AE: How are your relations with the Commissioner Füle? And the European Parliament?
IL: We have very open and partnership relations with the Commission. We appreciate very much the engagement of Commissioner Füle. Unit B1 of the Directorate General for Enlargement is dealing with Croatia and Montenegro. From 1 July 2013, Croatia will become a member state.
The European Parliament is an important piece of the EU puzzle, the voice of the people, a body with great competences and power.