In the past few days, Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Branko Radulović paid an official visit to Lithuania. During his visit, Vice President Radulović met, in separate meetings, with his counterparts: First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Lithuania – Seimas Mr Vydas Gedvilas, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Lithuania Ms Irena Degutienė, and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Lithuania Mr Algirdas Sysas, as well as with Mr Česlovas Juršėnas, long term MP and former Speaker of the Parliament, signer of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania and chief reformer, and also with Mr Audronius Ažubalis, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current MP.

In Seimas, Vice President Radulović also met with chairpersons and members of the following: Committee on Budget and Finance; Committee on Economics; Committee on Foreign Affairs; Committee on European Affairs; Committee on Legal Affairs, and Anticorruption Commission.   

Vice President Radulović used his stay in Lithuania to also visit the oldest University in the North and Middle Europe, Vilnius University, and meet with rector Artūras Žukauskas.

During the meetings with the highest officials of the Parliament of Lithuania in the past twenty years, topics for discussion included the current political, security, social and economic situation both in Europe and the world, with special reference to the Balkans and Montenegro, as well as the Baltics and Lithuania. The Lithuanian officials believe that the European Union, and the overall Europe, was facing numerous challenges, and that adequate reforms are necessary in order to stop negative effects coming from outside, but also from the inside, and prevent the escalation of the problems and find solutions that would ensure optimal and long-term stability. With regard to defence and security issues, they believe that the European Union did not respond adequately to numerous challenges, and that the military defence system factually does not exist, that the security services do not cooperate enough, and that the borders have become insufficiently protected. In that respect, they believe that it is necessary to work on establishing a single military defence system, with special intervention units which would undertake concrete action in certain crisis areas. They believe that the joint action of the Baltic states, in their opinion, regardless of whether they are NATO members or military neutral, is an example of how to react in a timely and effective manner. They believe that the developments in the Ukraine and tensions in the Balkans, as well as the growth of radical Islam, and a growing number of emigrants are consequences, among other things, of the inadequate response of the European Union and its institutions.

With regard to the social and economic situation in the European Union, the Lithuanian officials believe that the following is in the interest of all EU states, as well as those in the accession process: strengthening of the Union, enlargement of the euro-zone, establishment of the single economic and social policy, honouring of the established criteria and commitments, strengthening of funds that would mitigate the differences and contribute to recovery of economies of certain states.

Their positions on the role, significance and work of the Parliament were very interesting and instructive. For the past twenty years, they have been strengthening the significance of the opposition, and institutionalising its rights in the Constitution. In that respect, numerous proposals and initiatives by the opposition are on the agenda of ordinary sittings of the Parliament, and to put them on the agenda they need to have a support of only 20% of MPs in attendance. Additionally, special meetings are held every month with the initiatives coming from the opposition. The opposition leaders and the deputy speakers of the Parliament from the opposition are very respected and consulted regarding all significant issues, and without reaching a compromise solution and respecting the views of the opposition, they are not processed.  

With regard to the situation in Montenegro, although they were very well informed, they were inquiring about the details in many areas. Vice President Radulović pointed out that, unfortunately, in the Balkans there was largely a confederation of crimogenic regimes and security structures and that, in order to keep the status quo and their illegally obtained wealth, they were often reheating international differences, in order to divert attention from the essential problems. Those structures, as Mr Radulović pointed out, had captured the institutions of the system and were also largely controlling the media, and they will often stop at nothing, and even put global threats such as Islamic radicalism to work for their personal interests. The events in Kumanovo were a consequence of that. Additionally, he expressed concern regarding the increase in the number of citizens from the Balkan region fighting under the flag of the Islamic State, aware of the danger that they would represent upon return from the battlefield, and this topic would be discussed these days in the German Bundestag. He pointed out that, unfortunately, the idea of uniting Albanians in the Balkans, regardless of the status in the European Union, could be heard more and more often, not only from marginal Albanian politicians, but also from some distinguished officials.  

He also pointed out the worrying economic indicators in Montenegro as consequences of wrong and retrograde economic ideology and very present corruption. Unfortunately, he believes that Montenegro is at the brink of bankruptcy, and that the last of the resources are being sold, such as the most attractive tourist locations, and that harmful contracts are being signed, such as the engagement with the Chinese regarding the construction of a part of the highway. When asked about the presence of the Russian investors in Montenegro, he pointed out that, due to complete liberalisation of the real estate market, all the while he continuously had been warning about its harmful effects, we had a situation that a large number of Russian citizens had bought flats and built houses at Montenegrin coastal area, but that the relations with them were proper, which was something to be glad about. On the other hand, as he noted, there were also the supposed Russian investors, such as the tycoon Mr Deripaska, who had stricken a major blow to Montenegro financially, economically, developmentally, and ecologically, through privatisation of the Aluminium Plant, and in agreement with Prime Minister Đukanović.

With regard to the integration process, he pointed out that, thanks to the Parliament of Montenegro, many reformatory laws had been adopted, which was a certain kind of a progress, but there was still a problem with the full implementation, especially with regard to the rule of law and combating high level corruption.

With regard to their interest in military integration, the Vice President informed them that there were only two prevailing options: NATO integration and military neutrality, and that nobody was even thinking about some closer military cooperation with Russia. He also conveyed his position that he believed that the eventual integration of Montenegro to NATO should be a result of meeting criteria, with full recognition of the public opinion, which was not the case now, and in no case a product of the current geopolitical situation. He pointed out that he was looking forward to the EU announcements regarding the new strategy on the issue of security. 

The Lithuanian officials are aware of the fact that Montenegro is facing numerous challenges and that it has to carry out reforms that Lithuania implemented about twenty years ago, as well as that: the media must be free and professional which Lithuania achieved in ’89, economy must be sustainable, Montenegro should reconsider the purposefulness of using euro given that it is not a member of the EU and Eurozone, and science and knowledge have to be Montenegro’s most significant resources  as recognised in Lithuania, infrastructure should be improved from the European funds, because Lithuania has been using that mechanism for building new roads, railway and energetic infrastructure. The officials stressed that they fully supported Euro integration of the Western Balkans, but with complete fulfilment of all criteria, particularly those that would be adopted soon, and which required concreate results. When it comes to the NATO integration, they think that that Alliance is the best solution, but that all criteria and standards for the membership must be fulfilled, together with the public support the membership; Lithuania had a very high support of the public, so the decision was reached in the Seimas.

They wished luck to the opposition and citizens of Montenegro at the announced protests, stating that free and fair elections were the basis of every democracy and that they were held in Lithuania with no reprimands.

During the meeting of Vice President Radulović with chairpersons and members of the Committee on Budget and Finance and the Committee on Economics, the Lithuanian parliamentarians stressed that they supported the current model of Germany, adding that during the economic crisis they lost 15% of GDP, which was the highest fall of the GDP among EU member states, however, due to many measures undertaken, they have been marking the growth higher than 3% of GDP in continuity. Lithuania uses the EU funds efficiently and to a significant amount, investing primarily in education, science, and research, particularly in the fields of natural sciences, such as physics and chemistry. Due to the said, Lithuania exports IT, telecommunication, laser and medical devices, products made from wood and metal, and export of cereals is also significant. Thanks to competitiveness and high technologies such as lasers, Lithuania has easily substituted the Russian market – since the mutual sanctions were imposed. They increasingly use alternative energy sources, whose aim is to encourage energetic self-efficiency, significantly supporting the foundation of small and medium enterprises through various funds, banks are simultaneously commercial, development and savings, and interests are low. 

During the meeting with chairpersons and members of the Committee on European Affairs, the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Anti-corruption Commission, MPs emphasised that these working bodies were a type of mandatory committees because they hold discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Lithuanian positions prior to his departure to meetings of the EU Ministerial Council. They particularly emphasised that the Lithuanian foreign policy supported the EU enlargement on the basis of results achieved by candidate countries. During the Lithuanian integration process to the EU, every minister in the Lithuanian Government was a negotiator for chapters of their jurisdiction. They stressed that membership to the EU was entirely beneficial to Lithuania, providing means of many funds. With regard to that, Chairperson of the Committee Mr Juodka particularly underlined that during his rector mandate projects worth 200 million euros were implemented. Thus, Lithuania today has five centres for studies and innovations, of which two are under the auspices of the Vilnius University, studying in Lithuania is very attractive for numerous foreign students, while 600 students from India attended the University, Mr Juaodka explained. Parliamentarians stressed that EU membership required meeting of all requests, and modification of negotiation chapters with the aim of achieving the strong and functional EU. Chairperson of the parliamentary group for Western Balkan countries said that two years ago Seimas, through official letters, expressed a wish for better cooperation with other parliaments but Macedonia was the only one to answer.

Vice President Radulović held a meeting with representatives and members of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Anti-corruption Commission, and on that occasion they talked on Lithuanian and Montenegrin legislation. MPs stressed that their election system was mixed, and that a half of members of the Seimas were elected in a single-member constituency, and the other half in a nationwide party-list proportional system. They underlined that a system of open lists was used in Lithuania, elections were free and with no reprimands, all of which was an indicator of holding the elections according to democratic standards. They also talked about the great role of the opposition in the Seimas, explaining that it had its leader, so-called leader of the fraction, elected among the opposition parties, who had the advantage in taking the floor in plenary. Additionally, Chairperson of the Commission for Ethics and Procedures came from the opposition. Given that representatives of the Government come to Seimas on every Thursday to meet with MPs, the representative of the opposition is the first to speak.  The opposition may require for a pause that must be approved. MPs presented the judiciary and public prosecutor’s office system, which is completely independent, adding that Lithuania was on the 36^th place when it comes to level of corruption. Member of the Legislative Committee, who is also Vice President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Ms Vilija Aleknaite-Abramikiene emphasised that a regular election process required a greater participation of international observers as well as greater animation of citizens to observe the elections.

Vice President Radulović visited the Vilnius University and talked with rector Mr Artūras Žukauskas. Rector Žukauskas emphasised that the Vilnius University was one of the oldest in Europe and the biggest in the country, where around 20,000 students was attending 14 faculties, 5 institutes, 4 research centres and 9 laboratories within 58 academic programmes and 27 PhD programmes, employing around four thousands of academic and technical staff, as well as a number of guest professors. Managerial leadership of the University comprises of three bodies: strategic council, which elects the rector, adopts the budget and informs the public, body of academic affairs and body of leadership for administrative tasks. The rector particularly emphasised that the University was autonomous and fully independent, and that no one might influence its work and adoption of decisions within the University. The state only takes care on spending of the funds, which amounts 1% only for this university, but it cannot influence or decide on projects to be implemented.  When it comes to election of the rector, there are no politicians in the Council, or political influence. The significant part of University funds comes from students’ scholarships, awards for scientific achievements, EU funds and economic entities on the basis of cooperation in the field of economy. The Rector said that they followed the process of Bologna Declaration, applying and implementing the best of it. Additionally, there is a great exchange of students with prestigious world universities. Accreditation of the study programmes are issued by the Center for Quality Assessment in Higher Education, which often seeks consultations of foreign experts. Work of the Vilnius University is focused on the higher level technology. There are over twenty different models of support for cooperation with industry and founding of SMEs, through the development of incubation centres, receiving of vouchers, establishment of joint stock companies, etc., so it is intensive. Vice President Radulovic urged for innovation of the existing cooperation agreement between the Vilnius University and the University of Montenegro in many areas, at different levels and through different models. 

The Lithuanian parliamentarians emphasised that visit by Vice President Radulović would strengthen the cooperation between the two parliaments, as well as progress and cooperation in numerous fields.