Brussels, 21/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 21 June, the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Council hailed the formation in Montenegro of a “government of electoral trust”, which brings together the government and opposition parties “with a view to organising credible elections in October 2016”.
During a press conference at the end of the Stabilisation and Association Council, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said this government was “an excellent example of how to prepare elections on a political and general level”. “I hope all the political parties will continue to show the same political maturity at the approach of the next elections”, said the Dutch foreign minister, Bert Koenders.
In its statement, the Stabilisation and Association Council reiterates the importance of the full implementation of new electoral legislation and encourages all political parties to make the next elections fully inclusive.
Koenders said that the elections should not put a brake on Montenegro's progress regarding the reforms, especially the administrative reform, the judicial reform and the rule of law reform. Hahn reiterated that adopted legislation had to be implemented.
The Stabilisation and Association Council also hailed Montenegro for its continued commitment to regional cooperation and its constructive role in maintaining regional stability.
In addition, hailing the opening of two negotiation chapters, the Stabilisation and Association Council underlined its interest in opening two other chapters: 12 (food security, veterinary policy and phytosanitary) and 13 (fisheries). These two chapters could be opened before the end of the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)