Strasbourg, 18/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 18 April, the European Parliament hailed the opening of EU accession negotiations with Montenegro in June, and it called for the opening of the first chapters “as quickly as possible, on condition that the reform process is continued and that tangible results are obtained”.
Adopting the report of Charles Tannock (ECR, United Kingdom), the Parliament underlines Montenegro's progress in its European integration and urges the authorities to continue reforms. MEPs emphasise the need to make progress on the fight against corruption, against conflicts of interest, the informal economy and organised crime. They also call for the strengthening of juridical independence and the integrity and responsibility of the judicial system, and the implementation of a professional public administration that is efficient, based on merit, and impartial. MEPs call on the Montenegrin authorities to guarantee and promote media pluralism and the freedom of expression.
While noting progress, Parliament calls for further efforts for the insertion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minorities, and the protection of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people. Women's rights and gender equality have made little progress, MEPs note.
Parliament urges Podgorica to continue its efforts on the free movement of workers and capital, company law, food safety, taxation, enterprise policy and industrial policy, and financial and budgetary arrangements, connected to alignment with the acquis communautaire.
Lastly, MEPs welcome Montenegro's “constructive role” in regional cooperation. (CG/transl.fl)