Brussels, 27/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 26 June, Montenegro's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Luksic said he hoped that his country could open the chapters on the judicial apparatus and fundamental rights (chapter 23) and on freedom, security and justice (chapter 24) before the end of the year. “We are finalising the adoption process for the action plans on chapters 23 and 24 with a view to opening them before the end of the year”, Luksic said at the end of the Stabilisation and Association Council between the EU and Montenegro. In the opinion of Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle, although “the preparation of the action plans has been an enormous task”, “the true work begins now”, with the implementation of these plans. The Council hailed the fact that the screening process is progressing well and that two chapters have been opened and closed again (chapters 25 and 26).
Montenegro is progressing surely and steadily but some reforms are still needed, said Ireland's Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton, highlighting the rule of law with the fight against corruption and organised crime, and institutional reforms for total independence of the judicial system.
Progress on Montenegro's economic and political challenges such as constitutional amendments, the inquiry into the audio recordings affair, and the follow up to the OSCE's recommendations after the presidential elections will be an important factor in determining future progress in the accession negotiations, Füle explained. “We are waiting for the Montenegrin authorities to show the necessary political resolve to overcome the difficulties and raise [the EU's] expectations” about a country that is negotiating its accession to the EU, Füle added (our translation throughout).
The Stabilisation and Association Council hailed Montenegro's progress in bringing its legislation into line with European standards, and on implementing its trade commitments as part of the stabilisation and association agreement, and it encouraged Podgorica to continue its efforts. Montenegro's administrative capacity should be strengthened ahead of the accession negotiations and in order to ensure the effective application of the acquis, the Council nevertheless added. (CG/transl.fl)