Committee on European Integration today organised a public debate titled: “Montenegro and EU: negotiations on free movement of goods”. Ms Marija Ćatović, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration, was a moderator of the debate, while Ms Nina Vujošević, Advisor to Prime Minister of the Government and Head of the Working Group for preparing the negotiations in chapter 1 - Free movement of goods, spoke on acquis communautaire and implementation of obligations in this chapter.

MP Ćatović stressed that free movement of goods presented one of the four basic freedoms at the unique EU market, thus this field maintained the essence of the European integration process. She was interested in Montenegro’s obligations concerning this chapter in the following period, and competitiveness of Montenegrin economy at the European market.

Head of the Working Group for chapter 1 Ms Nina Vujošević presented this chapter, divided into four key subsections - horizontal measures, old approach, new approach and procedural measures. She emphasised that this field was omnipresent, hence eight ministries were in charge of the implementation of the measures. When it comes to enforcement of obligations in the negotiations, the finalisation of the draft negotiation position for this chapter was preceded by the fulfilment of three opening benchmarks related to adoption of strategy and action plan for harmonising the laws with the EU acquis; screening of the process with the aim of determining if there was an obligation of applying the CE marking, which might cause the legal ambiguity, bearing in mind that Montenegro is not a member of the EU yet; as well as adoption of the action plan with a list of regulations presenting a barrier to trade with the EU. Ms Vujošević concluded that, after joining the EU, Montenegrin producers would operate in the context of fair market competition, but also assume an obligation to comply with strict European standards.

The debate was organised ahead of the forthcoming Committee meeting, whereat the draft negotiation position for this chapter will be considered.