However, Montenegro, often considered a leader in the EU enlargement process, is dragging the pace of reforms and negotiations. According to European officials, filling key positions, such as Constitutional Court judges and members of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, already constitutes a serious obstacle to continuing membership negotiations.
The political “ping-pong” of returning laws between the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, and the Parliament is further slowing down the European path of this country. This is happening at a time when Montenegro, even without these institutional clashes, has begun to show signs of stagnation in fulfilling obligations in several areas important for European integration. On February 3, Milatović returned a package of laws to the Parliament for reconsideration, arguing that he wants the deputies to read and consider them seriously. “European reforms do not mean simply raising hands in the Parliament, nor approving laws without debate and discussion,” the Montenegrin president wrote on social networks.
It concerns a package of 25 laws that have already received the green light from the European Commission and that are necessary for Montenegro to continue closing chapters in the EU accession negotiations. Two days later, Milatović changed his position and declared the laws in force. He said that returning them to the Parliament, with the expectation that the deputies would read and seriously consider them, in his assessment, would have no practical effect. This package of laws, known in political jargon as the “blue laws”, had the approval of Brussels and the European Commission confirmed that it was aware of the decision of the Montenegrin president to declare the laws. “We confirm our continued support for Montenegro’s ambitious goal to close all remaining negotiation chapters by the end of the year, provided that all necessary conditions are fully met,” said European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier.
However, the latest move has highlighted a deeper problem: Montenegro, which is now entering the final phase of its EU accession negotiations, has begun to show signs of slowing down. The ambition is not only of Montenegro, but also of the European institutions, for the country to close all negotiating chapters by the end of this year. This would, at least in theory, make the national slogan “28 by 28” feasible, meaning that Montenegro could become the 28th member of the European Union by the end of 2028 – thus having enough time to ratify the Accession Treaty, which is signed after the official conclusion of the negotiations. The ratification process must be passed by all current EU member states – 27 in total – as well as by the country joining the union, in this case, Montenegro. This is a process that usually takes between one and three years.
However, Montenegro, often seen as a leader in the EU enlargement process, is dragging its feet on reforms and negotiations. According to European officials, filling key positions, such as judges of the Constitutional Court and members of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, is already a serious obstacle to the continuation of accession negotiations. If President Milatović had decided to put a stop to the so-called “blue laws”, this would have jeopardized the upcoming intergovernmental conferences, scheduled for March and April, at which some negotiating chapters could be closed, sources told Radio Free Europe. Mercier also confirmed this. “Continued delays in key processes, such as the adoption of laws and the appointment of vacant positions, if left unresolved, could constitute a serious obstacle to the realization of Montenegro’s ambition to close all negotiating chapters by the end of the year,” he said.
MEP Tomislav Sokoll, member of the delegation for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Montenegro, warned that the slowdown in the pace of adoption of the laws necessary to close the chapters “could have long-term consequences for the country’s European path”. “The EU window will not be open forever, and it is known who wants to close it. Therefore, it is important not to miss a moment that rarely comes back,” Sokoll wrote on social media.
In January, Montenegro provisionally closed Chapter 32 and currently has 13 chapters closed out of a total of 33 in the negotiations for accession to the European Union. It is expected that during the first half of the year, the European Union will approve the formation of working groups that will engage in the drafting of the Accession Agreement. The text of this agreement sets out the conditions of membership, transitional arrangements, safeguards, budgetary contribution, the number of members of the European Parliament, votes in the Council of the EU, as well as the Commissioner who will represent Montenegro. According to the negotiating principles adopted by the Accession Conference, agreements reached during the negotiations on individual chapters, even when partial, are not considered final, until a comprehensive agreement is reached on all chapters. Montenegro must close 23 more negotiation chapters, while the closure of each of them requires the approval of all European Union member states. (RFE)