Brussels, 10/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 10 November, the European Commission said that Montenegro had progressed in its EU accession negotiations.
In its progress report, the Commission states that Montenegro has opened eight negotiation chapters since October 2014. EU accession, and the invitation to join NATO, have remained essential priorities in Montenegro's foreign policy, the Commission states, adding that the two processes are linked by the emphasis made on the rule of law.
Although European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn says that progress has been made on the rule of law and a new institutional and legal framework, the country must still progress on the reform of its public administration and its judicial system. “The results on the fight against corruption and organised crime are too modest to be able to speak of fight”, Hahn said. “Concerns remain about freedom of expression, although attacks against the media decreased in the reporting period”, the Commission said in its report, deeming that Montenegro should continue efforts to solve all old and recent cases of attacks and implement the recommendations issued by the ad hoc media commission.
Opposition parties embarked on a boycott of parliament in September and the Commission's report states that all political parties should “re-engage in a constructive political dialogue in the parliament”. “It is important to have a constructive dialogue between the government and opposition” Hahn added during his presentation of the “enlargement package” to the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee.
Montenegro has also continued to play a constructive role in the region.
The Commission's report says that Montenegro is moderately prepared when it comes to developing a functioning market economy. It also states that macroeconomic stability has been maintained on the whole but that challenges to it remain. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)