Hongaars voorzitterschap: nog dit jaar toetredingsonderhandelingen openen met Montenegro (en)

The Hungarian Presidency is committed to giving a new impetus to the European Union enlargement process and it hopes that a decision will be reached as early as this year, on starting the accession negotiations with Montenegro, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zsolt Németh said at a press conference following the second meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council(SAA) held between the EU and Montenegro in Luxembourg on 21 June.

The meeting was attended by Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Integration Milan Rocen and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbour Policy Štefan Füle, while in the absence of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Németh represented the EU delegation.

Montenegro signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the Union on 15 October 2007, and requested for accession in 2008. It was officially granted candidate country status on 16 December 2010; however, instead of giving a specific date for commencing negotiations, the SAA determined seven key priorities for the country. In order to begin negotiations before autumn 2011, these requirements must be met completely, before the next enlargement package can be accepted.

Montenegro Progressing Well

“Today, Montenegro convinced me again that it will fulfil the criteria and can start negotiations soon,” Németh said, in an evaluation to the press conference, after the Stability and Association Council had reviewed the country's results.

The Council was delighted to find good progress in strengthening the rule of law and democracy. It was also satisfied with the improvement on combating corruption and organised crime, which were one of the most important criteria. In the field of minority protection and the assertion of human rights, the Council expects further efforts. The assessment welcomed measures that were taken in the direction of guaranteeing the freedom of expression, and was also satisfied with the achievements in creating macro-economic stability.

“I appreciate Montenegro’s enormous efforts”, Németh said, at the press conference. According to the Minister of State, its measures ranging from the initial changes in the electoral law to the steps taken in connection with the minority law are all evidence that Podgorica is building a multi-cultural country. “Montenegro has a very important and constructive role in the region,” Mr Németh, said closing the assessment.

Commission Ready to Support Montenegro

Enlargement Commissioner Füle, expressed his satisfaction with the work done since December. He finds that good progress has being made towards meeting the Copenhagen Criteria, a pre-requisite for beginning accession talks. “The necessary legislative process is progressing well; Montenegro must finish this process”, Mr Füle said. The Commissioner stressed, “The Commission is ready to give all technical and financial support to Montenegro to help it fulfil the requirements.”

Minister Rocen was extremely satisfied with the assessment: “This is an encouragement, and we are hopeful that if we keep up the hard work, we can start accession talks after october.” He especially thanked the Hungarian Presidency for its efforts on promoting the enlargement process, and expressed hopes that the region’s countries will soon deliver the same results.