WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
Choose language:
SOURCE: Pobjeda – AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
The latest non-paper by the European Commission on Chapters 23 and 24 sends a clear signal of caution—although there is unequivocal political will for enlargement, the EU is making it clear that tangible results and substantial reforms will now be the primary criteria for progress, assessed Milica Kovačević, Program Director of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT).
“If Montenegro wants to close the chapters on the rule of law by the end of 2026, it must prove it through action and results—not just plans and declarations. The Commission has described that goal as ‘objectively ambitious,’ which in diplomatic language means it is achievable only if the government urgently accelerates reforms and finally shows political will. The messages coming from Brussels are not harsh in tone, but they are precise and leave no room for misinterpretation. The Commission notes serious delays and backsliding and reminds that key recommendations have been on the table for years without genuine political determination to implement them. That is why it is crucial for the authorities to take Brussels’ signal seriously—there is a clear expectation to abandon formalistic approaches and political maneuvering that have thus far slowed down reforms,” Kovačević said.
She pointed out that one of the most critical findings concerns visa policy.
“Instead of aligning with the EU visa regime, as required by one of the final benchmarks, the government has adopted decisions that move this policy even further away from European standards. The Commission openly states that Montenegro is regressing with these decisions and undermining its own credibility. Such decisions inevitably create the impression that short-term financial interests are being prioritized over long-term European commitments, which undermines trust and opens space for doubts about the government's true European orientation,” said Kovačević.
She noted that in the area of the judiciary, the unresolved issue of Constitutional Court judges’ retirement remains, due to differing interpretations of the law.
“Although the Venice Commission has for years recommended the adoption of a special law to clearly and uniformly regulate the labor rights of judges, including retirement criteria, this has still not been done. Such procrastination is not only unacceptable but has already led to a serious institutional crisis, which could have been avoided if there had been political will to resolve the problem systemically, rather than use it for day-to-day political purposes. The European Commission is now unequivocally demanding that Montenegro resolve this issue without further delay. It is particularly concerning that electoral reform, which has been identified for over a decade as key to democratizing the process, shows no signs of substantive progress. The Commission notes that the Law on Financing Political Entities and Election Campaigns is still not aligned with European standards, despite Montenegro’s commitment to do so by the end of 2024. Furthermore, inconsistencies between this law and the Law on the Election of Councillors and MPs further complicate oversight of campaign spending,” Kovačević emphasized.
She added that there is still a tendency among political elites to fulfill formal requirements through partial and cosmetic changes, while essential recommendations—such as the introduction of deterrent sanctions, prevention of abuse of public resources, and transparent monitoring of expenses—are being ignored.
“This approach, which CDT has long warned about, cannot lead to real progress. If electoral reform is to be taken seriously, it must be comprehensive, include all related laws, and be implemented through an inclusive and expert-driven process—not backroom political deals. In the area of media freedom, the European Commission report highlights the urgency of resolving the stalemate in appointing members to the Council of the Agency for Electronic Media (AEM) and the national broadcaster RTCG. Instead of opening space for the selection of independent and competent members in accordance with the new legal framework, we are witnessing a situation where the parliamentary majority is systematically blocking the implementation of the selection process because the candidates who meet professional criteria are not politically suitable. This undermines the entire reform and confirms that the key goal—depoliticizing these bodies—remains only on paper. Such practices directly undermine legislative reforms in the media sector and send a clear message that institutions which should be professional and independent remain under party control. The European Commission demands that these appointments be carried out without further delay, based on merit rather than political interests,” Kovačević stated and concluded:
“If domestic institutions continue to delay, simulate change, and be content with declarations instead of action, Montenegro will miss a historic opportunity. The political will for EU accession exists, but the speed and success of the process depend solely on reform performance in Montenegro. If no concrete progress is made, the responsibility for the missed opportunity cannot be placed outside the country.”
