Brussels, 22/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the EU took note, without any enthusiasm but with a lot of realism, of the referendum result on 21 May in Montenegro, which had gained the 55.4% majority necessary for the country's independence (the minimum required was 55%). The EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana declared, “the EU will fully respect the wish of the majority of Montenegrins. It is very important that both recognise the outcome”. Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, also affirmed that the result had to be respected but also underlined that Montenegrins had to envisage their future “on the basis of European values and standards”.
The referendum result has direct implications on on-going negotiations between the EU and Serbia-Montenegro on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). Opened in November 2005, these negotiations were temporarily suspended due to lack of cooperation from Belgrade and the International Criminal Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), particularly on the Mladic affair. The Commission will take immediate action in account of the new situation, explained a spokesperson on Monday, namely: it will soon propose a negotiation mandate to the Council for beginning direct negotiations with the Montenegro authorities on a separate SAA with the EU; at the same time, it will submit a proposal to the Council for amending and adapting the current negotiation mandate with Serbia “which is the successor to the state which with we are currently negotiating”. The Commission hopes that a “maximum” in the agreement so far negotiated with Belgrade can be preserved but Member States are obviously free to define the two new negotiation mandates (for Serbia and for Montenegro) as they see fit.
Speaking at the European Parliament, Doris Pack (EPP-ED), the President of the delegation to South East Europe, welcomed the referendum result, “which clearly represents the political will of the Montenegro people”. Ms Pack averred that they now needed to keep their eyes on the future and put the EU accession criteria into practice. She concluded that Serbia and Montenegro's future “clearly resides on prospects for EU accession”. The Socialist group also said that the referendum result had to be respected. Jan Marinus Wiersma and Hannes Swoboda affirmed, “we wish Montenegro well as it embarks on its own independent path. We look forward to a constructive relationship between Montenegro and Serbia”. The Greens/EFA also welcomed the result and Angelika Beer asserted that Montenegro had to have a “clear European perspective”.