The X meeting of the European Union - Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) has begun in Budva today.

Opening the X SAPC meeting, President of the Parliament Mr Ranko Krivokapić said that Montenegro had a stable, leading position in the region when it comes to meeting its European obligations. “As a state we give an additional contribution to the movement of the region towards the EU and the overall growth of confidence in the integration process”, Mr Krivokapić noted. Mr Krivokapić emphasised that the Parliament as an institution maintained a positive role in the EU reports, and that it has been working devotedly to improve capacities by advocating interests of citizens.

Chair of the Delegation of the European Parliament Ms Anneliese Dodds said that the EU noticed the significant progress made by Montenegro in numerous fields and praised the strong commitment of members of the Montenegrin Parliament and citizens regarding the joining process. Ms Dodds added that the progress in chapters 23 and 24 was of key importance, adding that the EU would be focused in the future on meeting of obligations in the field of the legislative framework but also on the fight against corruption, media freedom, human rights, women’s and minority groups rights as well as rights of disabled persons.

Speaking on the current state of accession negotiations and relations between the European Union and Montenegro, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government Mr Duško Marković said that the state was devoted to the rule of the law and strengthening the work of courts and police, as well as fight against corruption and organised crime. “The Government’s aim is to preserve media freedom, and the state’s results on its path towards the EU must not be initial but measurable”, Mr Marković stressed.

Ambassador of Latvia to Montenegro H.E. Mr Imants Liegis stated that Latvia remained a major supporter of the European Union enlargement process and fast dynamics of the negotiation process. Mr Liegis emphasised that the effective implementation of the legislation, rule of law, fight against corruption and organised crime and strengthening of administrative capacities remained task that Montenegro had to work on furtherly.

Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Mr Mitja Drobnič praised the pace of Montenegro in opening negotiating chapters, stressing that the EU has carefully monitored its meeting of obligations, noting that 2015 should be a year of actual results for Montenegro. Mr Drobnič praised a significant legislative activity by the Parliament, adding that the proactive role that the Parliament played in supervising the executive power was a key for negotiation process.  

Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration and Deputy Co-Chair of the SAPC Mr Slaven Radunović said that he saw EU accession as possibility for Montenegro to conduct reforms in a quality way. Mr Radunović emphasised that there were no measurable results in fight against corruption and organised crime and that there was a visible gap between the adoption of laws and their implementation. Mr Radunović added that it was necessary for Montenegro as a state to achieve a steady progress in chapters 23 and 24 as well as in other negotiating chapters.

Vice President of the Parliament and SAPC member Mr Milutin Simović stressed that the country had achieved a significant progress in numerous fields, meeting its obligations devotedly in the part of legislative solutions, but also in the part of strengthening administrative capacities. Mr Simović added that the SAPC was a good opportunity for reminding that at the previous SAPC meeting the harmonisation of Montenegro’s foreign policy with the EU was welcomed, and that there was consent between the ruling parties and opposition on that issue, which, as he explained, demonstrated understanding and acceptance of the need for consistent respect of principles and aims of partners whose club we want to be a part of.

Mr Zoran Pažin spoke on reforms and activities necessary for progress in chapters 23 and 24. Mr Pažin said that negotiations with the EU were not a privilege of any political party in Montenegro. “The legal security is the most important for achieving the rule of law”, Mr Pažin stressed. Mr Pažin said that as a state we have set high standards when it comes to adopting the laws from the judiciary field, adding that the trend must be followed when it comes to the level of responsibility of holders of judicial functions”.

The SAPC meeting will be continued tomorrow, when members of the Montenegrin and European parliaments will adopt a Declaration and recommendations. Afterwards, a joint press conference of President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ranko Krivokapić and Chair of the Delegation of the European Parliament Ms Anneliese Dodds is planned.