On Monday 29 January, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, updated the European Affairs Ministers at the 15th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro on the measures implemented by the country to make progress towards EU membership (see EUROPE 13274/9).
“From the start of the discussions, we heard the commitment to move the country forward on its European trajectory. We have heard the presentation of the things that need to be done for enlargement to happen. (...) If the country continues on this path, we are ready for membership”, commented the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Olivér Várhelyi.
While the initial work carried out by the newly-elected government has been welcomed by the Member States, they have also stressed the need for Podgorica to speed up the requested reforms, particularly in relation to negotiating chapters 23 and 24 on the rule of law (see EUROPE 13201/27).
“This is necessary for the provisional closure of other chapters”, pointed out Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib, while 33 chapters have so far been opened and three provisionally closed.
According to the Belgian minister, priority should be given, among other things, to reform of the judicial system, “to combat corruption, including high-level corruption”, the protection of journalists and “the follow-up of cases” concerning them before the courts (see EUROPE 13283/14).
“We will see what priority is given to these issues, which will enable us to move on to the final phase, where we will close chapters and reach agreements that will lead to accession”, added Mr Várhelyi.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us, the ministers know that, and we’re going to go through the catalogue of things to be done every day and remind everyone of what needs to be done”, concluded Mr Spajić. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)