Bilčik: Montenegro's progress is stopped by the incompetence of politicians

Montenegro needs to move forward and find answers to the problems it faces. There is no institution or person in Brussels that would make such decisions for you. Everything is in the hands of politicians in Podgorica, said the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Stabilization and Association with Montenegro, European MP Vladimir Bilčik, in a program for Gradska TV. Montenegro's progress, according to his assessment, is currently stopped by politicians' inaction and inability to make important decisions. He is convinced, he says, that the only credible way out of the crisis and progress in European integration is an agreement on new parliamentary elections.
It was a great pleasure for me to meet yesterday with four deputies who were in Brussels as part of the delegation of the Citizens' Assembly. We talked informally about the situation in the country and I was encouraged by the news that came from Montenegro. As far as I understand, it seems that there is broad agreement about all four candidates for the new judges of the Constitutional Court. I, as well as other politicians who closely cooperate with Montenegro, welcome this news and encourage the Parliament to hold its session as soon as possible. This is an urgent issue - that the Constitutional Court be fully completed, on the eve of the presidential elections. Of course, there are also local elections, the results of which have not been made official even after several months. There are a number of issues that are still controversial, including amendments to the Law on the President, which we strongly criticized - said Bilčik.
He stated that it is high time that Montenegro has a functional Constitutional Court.
I hope that, by the end of this month at the latest, there will be clear developments in that direction, which we will welcome. If you ask me, has too much time passed? Yes, it is. But is there a solution? Yes, there is. And this is a good and important sign. And the most important news is that only dialogue and consensus, which include both the opposition and the ruling majority in a direct conversation and an agreement that overcomes political differences in the Parliament, is the only way forward. Montenegro needs a constitutional majority for this decision, and it would be ideal if the judges received the widest possible support in the Parliament, because this will give the Constitutional Court broad legitimacy in the coming years as well - said Bilčik.
He said that Montenegro is going through a political, constitutional and institutional crisis.
Because several institutions are neither legitimate nor fully established. So it would be unfortunate if this crisis deepened. And that's why I say, let's talk after February 27, because I hope that by then we will get a clear, good, democratic and European answer. Honestly, I was also encouraged by the informal conversation here in Brussels with four deputies who came to support the Citizens' Assembly project, on which we from the European Parliament, together with the Parliament of Montenegro, have been working since 2021, and I hope that this spirit of understanding the seriousness overcome the situation in this critical time and the country will begin to provide answers - Bilčik pointed out.
M. J.