EC for Montenegro: Progress in reforms, but institutions vulnerable to political crises

2024-10-30 20:35:09, Kosova & Bota CNA

EC for Montenegro: Progress in reforms, but institutions vulnerable to political

Montenegro has made significant progress in justice reform, the fight against corruption, freedom of expression and media, but its institutions are fragile and vulnerable to political crises and possible institutional blockages, the European Commission estimates in the report that was approved on Wednesday in Brussels.

In the document, the EC recalls that in June 2024, in the report on the assessment of the fulfillment of the temporary standards, it has determined that Montenegro has fulfilled the temporary standards for chapter 23, which determines the final standards for this chapter.

When it comes to electoral legislation, the report states that the Montenegrin "electoral framework requires a comprehensive review", although the implementation of elections is "generally satisfactory".

“The legal framework requires comprehensive reform and alignment with EU legislation, including electoral legislation, restrictions on voting rights and candidacies, transparency, dispute resolution mechanisms and oversight of campaign and media finance. Most of the remaining OSCE/ODIHR recommendations have not been addressed. "Montenegro must make an additional effort to harmonize its electoral processes with the highest democratic standards," the document states.

The report assesses that the Montenegrin parliament "can exercise its powers in a largely satisfactory manner" and assesses that despite the continued fragmentation of the parliamentary landscape, the formation of a majority in October 2023 "ended a prolonged period of political instability".

The EC also requests that Montenegro ensure the full and effective implementation of the improved strategic and legal frameworks in order to resolve existing challenges and continue alignment with EU laws and European standards in the field of prevention and fight against corruption .

In 2025, Montenegro is required to further improve results in the fight against corruption, including high-level corruption, by urgently strengthening the effective implementation of existing criminal legislation by the prosecution and courts, including the imposition of effective and deterrent penalties.
The EC stressed that it is necessary to "urgently amend the Law on the financing of political entities and election campaigns, so that the country can solve the existing shortcomings and fully harmonize it with European standards".

The report comes four days after the visit of EC President Ursula von der Leyen to Podgorica, who evaluated the results of Montenegro in the accession process.
Montenegro is considered a leader in the EU membership process, with all 33 chapters open and three closed.

According to the expectations of the Government of Montenegro, four chapters should be closed by the end of this year, while the other 26, as Prime Minister Milojko Spajic has warned, by the end of 2026.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varheli, in the presentation of the enlargement package, said that the EC's intention to propose the drafting of the membership agreement with Montenegro, with the conclusion of the negotiations, will follow the next step.

"It's hard to say, but I hope Podgorica's level of commitment continues towards what we've seen so far. We are not there yet. When all the chapters are closed, then the proposal for membership negotiations is on the line, but there are still steps to take," said Varheli.

By the end of the mandate of the next commission, he said, the expansion can be expected.

It is recalled that in June 2024, the European Commission determined in the Assessment Report for the fulfillment of the temporary criteria (IBAR) that Montenegro fulfilled the temporary criteria for chapter 23, which determines the final criteria for this chapter./ VOA