On Thursday 14 July the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, called on Montenegrin political actors to focus on reforms related to the EU accession process, as the country faces a new political crisis.
The EU and Montenegro need “strong political commitment, genuine engagement and consensus building by all relevant institutions and all political actors. Other current political issues in Montenegro should not divert attention and energy from the reform agenda”, Mr Borrell warned at the end of the EU-Montenegro Association and Stabilisation Council, the first to be held in Podgorica.
According to the High Representative, Montenegro has the potential to become a “success story”, recalling that all chapters of the accession negotiations are open. “It is now time to close negotiating chapters”, Mr Várhelyi said, adding that this required considerable efforts in terms of respecting the rule of law.
Mr Borrell and Mr Várhelyi called for progress on judicial reform, the media, and the fight against corruption and organised crime, not only in terms of legislation, but also in terms of implementing measures. “We expect Montenegro to phase out golden passports and align its visa policy with that of the European Union”, the High Representative added. He also welcomed Podgorica’s alignment with EU sanctions against Russia.
For his part, Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazović said that his country’s accession to the EU was the number one foreign policy priority. “It all depends on us, we have to do our job”, he acknowledged.
See the joint statement: https://aeur.eu/f/2n5 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)