Montenegro has a chance to close all negotiation chapters with the European Union by the end of next year, but only if there is clear and consistent political will, on which the entire process depends. While the Ministry of European Affairs states that the current Government has the capacity to achieve this goal, analysts warn that among the very holders of power there are serious obstructers of European integration, who do not act in accordance with European values. These are the key messages of the PROUDCAST of the Centre for Civic Education (CCE).
On EU negotiations, the challenges and obligations on that path, as well as Montenegro’s readiness to respond to them, Željka Zvicer, Programme Associate at the CCE, spoke with Biljana Papović, State Secretary at the Ministry of European Affairs, and Nikoleta Đukanović, Professor at the University of Donja Gorica.
Papović believes that the latest European Commission report realistically reflects Montenegro’s progress in the process of European integration. „Challenges in numerous areas are indeed complex, but the combination of assessments from the report and the optimism coming not only from Montenegro, but also from Brussels, indicates that the work ahead of us is achievable“, Papović said.
Đukanović noted that the remaining chapters can be closed by the end of next year, but exclusively with strong political will. „And it is precisely in that political will that I see the greatest obstacles. Our political scene is extremely complex and burdened with various direct and indirect interests and sub-interests, which makes it difficult to predict how things will develop further“, she explained.
Papović also referred to the obligations from the Reform Agenda, as well as the fact that Montenegro has so far withdrawn only 38% of the funds from the Growth Plan. Delays in fulfilling reform steps, in her assessment, stem from the overburdening of the administration. However, the example of the Law on Legal Recognition of Gender Identity Based on Self-Determination, which has been prepared but has not yet been adopted by the Government, shows that this is not always the case. „The issue of political will is always decisive. There are topics for which, at a given moment, there is no readiness for them to be put on the table. At the same time, it is important that certain issues are opened with a quality public debate, in order to avoid counter-effects. And that preparation of society for sensitive topics is something that is necessary“, she stressed.
Đukanović, however, recalls that this law should have been sent to Parliament as early as December last year. „If citizens are not ready for that step, which is no ‘greater’ than the Law on Same-Sex Life Partnership, and we are talking about the rights and lives of a significant number of people in Montenegro, then we are not ready for those European values, for what the EU in fact offers, gives, guarantees, provides and what it truly is. Then the question rightly arises as to where we are going and why we are even striving towards the European Union if we do not share those values,“ she said.
The interlocutors also referred to the fact that, even after all chapters are closed, Montenegro must obtain the consent of all EU Member States.
Papović believes that the focus must now remain on fulfilling domestic obligations. „Let us do our homework and then meet that political decision of the Member States prepared. The process is today predictable thanks to the new methodology, and what will happen after 2026 will, above all, be within the competence of the Member States and the political decisions in those countries“, she pointed out.
Commenting on unofficial ideas about limited voting rights for new members, Đukanović believes that they reflect the EU’s fear of states that flirt with Russia. The Balkans is a specific and unpredictable area, burdened by our war legacies and animosities – ethnic, national, religious, etc. In that sense, I am certain that just as it is important for the EU to integrate the region, it is equally important for it to do so somehow under the veil of democracy and the protection of human rights, and not animosities and poor neighbourly relations“, she stressed, adding that the influence of Serbia, as well as the connection of certain structures in Montenegro with official Belgrade, cannot be ignored.
„I think we should be prepared for many obstructions. I also think that the EU itself sees as a problem those parties that are in power in Montenegro, that is, those parties that are part of the parliamentary majority. But just as we assess what is the lesser evil is and then decide on something as a solution, the EU also makes a similar choice – because the DPS, due to the systemic corruption it built, could obviously no longer be an option. Thus, a kind of hybrid, unnatural compromise is being shaped today, the sustainability of which is questionable,” Đukanović added.
Papović, on the other hand, believes that the issue of conditional voting rights does not relate to Montenegro. “Caution due to Russian influence is logical in the context of war in Europe, because we have a war on the European continent caused by Russian aggression. However, Montenegro has no dilemma when it comes to our foreign policy orientation. Our 100% alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy clearly demonstrates this,” Papović said.
Speaking about the state’s response to revisionist tendencies that also burden the integration process, Papović believes that additional caution is required. “Our task is to build that resilience and to remain truly stable in fulfilling our tasks. The European Commission recognises all these issues. What is normal in all societies is that there is no single ideology and that there will be certain people who will have an interest in exploiting that. The question is the scope and the capacity to oppose it,” Papović stated.
However, Đukanović warns that one cannot speak of resilience, as certain actors in power are revising historical facts. “Who is to create resilience if you have certain media, institutions and parties that actually represent channels of that influence. I think it is very difficult to speak of that resilience at all, but I am certain that Montenegro has enough progressive tissue to oppose it,” Đukanović concluded.
The entire PROUDCAST is available at the link: https://youtu.be/2SV6VxP9j9Y
This PROUDCAST was produced within the project “EU Compass for Youth”, which the CCE implements with the support of the Ministry of European Affairs.
Maja Marinović, Programme Associate