Brussels, 18/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 18 December, Montenegro opened five accession negotiating chapters with the EU. “This is a very significant step”, said Lithuania's Minister for Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius, while Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle believed it was “a milestone” in the accession process.
In addition to chapters on the judicial apparatus and fundamental rights (23), and justice, freedom and security (24), Montenegro opened chapters on public procurement (5), company law (6) and enterprise and industrial policy (20). Underlining that these three chapters are linked to the business environment, Füle said that an “alignment in these chapters will help prepare Montenegro's economic operators to participate in the EU's internal market, as well as contribute to the responsible use of public funds”. The intergovernmental conference states that, for chapters 23 and 24, the interim objectives will have to be met before the next stages of the negotiating process can be started. There are 83 interim stages on the two chapters, Füle said. Montenegro's Minister for Justice Dusko Markovic stated that the reforms on fighting organised crime and corruption will continue, and that Montenegro is especially working on implementing a specific package to combat organised crime and corruption.
The intergovernmental conference also confirmed at ministerial level the opening and provisional closure of the chapter on education and culture (26), which was decided at ambassador level on 15 April (see EUROPE 10827). In total, seven out of 35 negotiating chapters have therefore been opened - two of which have been provisionally closed. The accession negotiations were started in June 2012.
The EU and Montenegro also signed the protocol to the stabilisation and association agreement between the European Communities and their member states and the Republic of Montenegro, in order to take Croatia's membership of the EU into account.
The previous day, in the conclusions of the General Affairs Council, the ministers hailed the progress made in these negotiations, the reforms that have been conducted, and the implementation of the stabilisation and association agreement and its active role in the region. Nevertheless, they underline that Montenegro must progress further in its reforms - in particular in order to develop a solid track record in the area of the rule of law, and “with respect to the fight against organised crime and corruption - including at a high level”. The Council also called for the timely and full implementation of the action plans on chapters 23 and 24. “This will require deep and lasting political reforms”, the Council states, adding that “progress in these areas will determine the overall pace of negotiations”. (CG/transl.fl)