WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
Choose language:
AUTHOR: M.J.
The ambassadors of the EU member states in Brussels approved the EU Common Position in Chapters 23 and 24 in the negotiations with Montenegro. This creates the conditions for the Intergovernmental Conference at the ministerial level, which will be held on June 26 in Brussels.
In the position adopted by the ambassadors at today's meeting, it is stated that, in general, Montenegro has met the transitional benchmarks in the chapters of justice and fundamental rights and justice, freedom and security.
Previously, the European Commission stated in its assessment that Montenegro, overall, met the transitional standards, achieved a good result at the level of compliance and is progressing in the application of EU acquis, which is stated in the draft of the common position, which the RTCG official in Brussels had an insight into.
In the common position, the final benchmarks were determined, which define further guidelines in the upcoming work on these chapters.
According to the procedures, the Joint Position should now be formally approved at the ministerial level, followed by the holding of the Intergovernmental Conference.
The intergovernmental conference with Montenegro, according to information, will be held on Wednesday, June 26, and in addition to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Jozep Borelj, Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelji and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Hađa Labib will participate in it, as and representatives of other EU member states.
The Belgian Presidency will confirm the fulfillment of the temporary benchmarks and announce the final benchmarks agreed by the EU. Commissioner Varhelji will give additional comments.
The Montenegrin side is then expected to agree with the proposed criteria for closing the chapter.
A press conference will be held after this event.
The first intergovernmental conference with Montenegro at the ministerial level was held on June 29, 2012, when our country officially started negotiations. Since then, 15 such meetings have been held. Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiation chapters in which it negotiates with the EU, while three are temporarily closed.
In May 2021, the Council agreed to apply the revised enlargement methodology to the accession negotiations with Montenegro with the aim of reinvigorating the accession process, putting a stronger focus on fundamental reforms and stronger political guidance. With the new methodology, the chapters are grouped into six clusters.
