Co-Chairs Mr Ranko Krivokapić, President of the Parliament of Montenegro and OSCE PA, and Mr Eduard Kukan, Chair of the European Union Delegation for relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, opened the Eight meeting of the European Union - Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC), which is being held in Podgorica. .

President of the Parliament of Montenegro and OSCE PA Mr Ranko Krivokapić pointed out that the past year had been successful for the Montenegrin Parliament regarding major issues

- Constitutional reforms, especially in the area of the rule of law are a challenge for every country. We, as the Parliament, have proven that we are capable to consensually resolve even the most difficult of political challenges. If at any time we should forget that the justice is the foundation of a state, the global association such as the EU would bring us back to that fundamental message, that all forms of integration, both our internal in Montenegro and the EU as a whole, must start from the rule of law and constant modelling of fight for the rule of law, said Mr Krivokapić.

He stated that it might made our challenges easier, when we knew that others were facing them, and not only us, and that the experience which we were acquiring in the Balkans would be beneficial with building an example of the EU legal system in the future.

In the introductory part of the meeting, on behalf of the Government of Montenegro, Mr Igor Lukšić, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro and Minister of Interior, addressed the attendees, saying that the dimension of parliamentary cooperation contained in the SAPC name made a key link in achieving complete and continuously good results on the European path of Montenegro. In conclusion he said that Montenegro had demonstrated maturity in the last example, by adopting amendments to the election legislation, which was the result of hard work of representatives of all parties represented in the Parliament, but also the civil sector and indicator of activities of all parts of society focused precisely on timely fulfilment of undertaken commitments and tasks form its dynamic European agenda.     

The Ambassador of Hellenic Republic to Montenegro H.E. Ilias Fotopoulos spoke on behalf of presidency over the European Union Council. He stated that Montenegro was progressing at a good pace, and that it continued to fulfil its obligations and play an active role in the region, as well that it was participating in further development of regional cooperation, which, along with good neighbourly relations, remained an essential part of the accession process. He said that the future European path of Montenegro was demanding and that it required deep and lasting political reforms, with focus on effective implementation in accordance with the European standards and best practice.

In his address on behalf of the European Commission, Mr Dirk Lange, Head of Unit for Montenegro and Iceland, emphasised that Montenegro was making good progress in its negotiation process, step by step, however, tangible results were expected, because the reform was not only based on good documents but also on implementation, adding that they would be assessing election legislation, taking into account whether the recommendations so far had been implemented. He considered that reaching a political consensus regarding the European path of Montenegro was extremely significant, and that the doors were open, but the path was filled with conditions and requirements.

Following consideration of the current state of accession negotiations and relations between the European Union and Montenegro, the rapporteurs on following the recommendations adopted at the seventh SAPC meeting in Strasbourg were Mr Slaven Radunović, Mr Eduard Kukan and Ms Nada Drobnjak.  The rapporteurs on violence against journalists were Mr Miodrag Vuković, Ms Ana Ibrisagić and Mr Dritan Abazović.

The eighth SAPC meeting will be continued tomorrow at 09:00am. The item of the agenda on the topic “Combating Corruption and Organised Crime” will be opened by Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro for Political System, Home and Foreign Policy Mr Duško Marković, and the rapporteurs will be the MPs Mr Koča Pavlović, Mr Mevludin Nuhodžić and Mr Tonino Picula. Minister of Finance Mr Radoje Žugić will speak on the topic “Public Finance and Economic Reforms”, and the rapporteurs will be the MPs Mr Damir Šehović, Mr Lajoš Bokros and Mr Danko Šarančić.

At the end of the two-day work, it has been planned for the SAPC members to adopt recommendations confirming achieved progress in various areas within the process of Montenegro’s accession to the EU, and identify areas that in the following period need additional effort in order to meet the European standards, necessary for the full-fledged EU membership.

A press conference has been scheduled for today, in the Hall of the Parliament of Montenegro, at 12:30, where President of the Parliament of Montenegro and OSCE PA Mr Ranko Krivokapić and Chair of the European Union Delegation for relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo Mr Eduard Kukan will address the public.