Analysts: Montenegro's integration into the EU, important for the region

2024-06-09 18:14:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Analysts in Montenegro appreciate the support of the European Commission in the fulfillment of the temporary standards and in the progress of the implementation of European law and standards, but they also express concern that the deepening of political friction between pro-Western and pro-Russian forces and pro- Serbs can slow down this process.

In this context, they see the integration of Montenegro in the EU as very important for stability in the country and the region.

Analysts estimate that the approval of the laws that are necessary for receiving the Report on Completion of the Temporary Criteria opens the way for Montenegro to European integration and marks a positive moment in its journey. (INC)

Analyst Gjokë Dukaj describes the work of the current government in the last year as appropriate towards European integration.

"If we refer to some recent actions since the coming to power of the 44th government of Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, I think that Montenegro has taken the right steps towards European integration", said Mr. Dukaj

Meanwhile, the analyst and former editor-in-chief of the well-known Montenegrin magazine "Zid", Xhevdet Pepiq said that Montenegro is the country that has been negotiating with the European Union for the longest time.

"We are the country that has been negotiating with the European Union for the longest time, apart from Turkey. In this context, Montenegro needs the European Union, but the narrative about integration is being misused for political factors, said Mr. Pepik.

However, analysts express concern that in Montenegro, in recent years, political friction between pro-Western and pro-Russian and pro-Serbian forces, which are trying to become part of the country's power, has deepened.

Unstable politics, according to analyst Pepiq, is a consequence of the identity crisis.

"The political situation, as in previous years, is quite unstable. We have many accusations about the possible participation of pro-Serbian and pro-Russian parties in the government, while the issues of national and religious identity have become the center of the debates, leaving aside the state ones", said Mr. Pepiq.

Even the analyst Dukaj expresses his shyness that Montenegro may change its course as a result of the influence of Russian and Serbian politics.

"What causes some shyness in the opinion here is that some of the constituent structures of the government are not committed to European integration. I think of the political structures that continuously support and support the pro-Serbian and pro-Russian policy", said the analyst Dukaj.

In this context, analysts see as extremely important the fastest possible integration of Montenegro into the European Union, taking into account the high support that exists in the public opinion.

Such commitment, according to analysts, would soften the harsh political frictions and would obviously weaken the Russian and Serbian influence in Montenegro./ VOA