On Friday 7 February, European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, called on Montenegro to step up the pace of its reforms.
“Reforms need to be accelerated, especially with regard to the rule of law and media freedom", he said at a press conference with the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Duško Marković in Podgorica. Marković said that his country would continue to implement reforms, particularly on these two issues.
The Commissioner also discussed the new law on religion, which is controversial in the country, and he encourages the parties involved to talk and find a solution acceptable to all. Mr Marković said that the law had been adopted in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.
“Reforms will have to continue and be accelerated under the new parliament”, the Commissioner insisted, with parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2020 at the latest. He called on the opposition to cooperate with the parties in government and to participate in the elections (see EUROPE 12394/17). “Whatever the majority (in Parliament), reforms will be needed”, Várhelyi warned, adding that whatever the majority in power, the challenges facing the country are the same.
The Prime Minister of Montenegro also hoped that Montenegro could open the final chapter of EU accession negotiations which deal with competition this year and that it could close several others. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)