Picula: Dangerous initiatives come from the ruling majority parties

SOURCE: ANTENNA M / AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
For the further progress of Montenegro towards the European Union, the commitment of political actors to the European agenda will be key, but also the ability to solve internal blockades, specifically anti-Montenegrin parties. Some further obstructions should be expected. This is what Tonino Picula, the European Parliament's reporter for Montenegro and more recently for Serbia, told 24 Hours of Television E.
The new Report of the European Commission on the progress of Montenegro, says Picula, as always, marks omissions and missed opportunities, but also the fact that some successes have been recorded.
"The report, most often, uses the assessment of moderate preparedness of the largest number of chapters. The overall rating is, it seems to me, somewhat better than in previous years. In the case of the judiciary, which, however, remains the starting and ending point of the entire process, the Commission registers some recommendations that have been fulfilled, but, at the same time, emphasizes that it is necessary to work on those recommendations that have not been fulfilled. For example, the priority is the appointment of the President of the Supreme Court and other high-ranking officials. What is worrying are the unfilled positions in the judiciary and prosecutor's office. In short, I would say that progress in achieving all segments in Chapters 23 and 24 remains crucial for the successful completion of the accession process of any country that is a candidate for membership in the European Union, including Montenegro," said Picula.
He notes that he should maintain skepticism towards, as he says, the influence of political options in Montenegro, which tend to deny Montenegrin identity and hinder Montenegrin progress on the European path.
"One of such cases is the move of the ruling majority, which threatened good neighborly relations with Croatia, this summer. I would say that it is a political imposition of a topic that called into question bilateral cooperation and the further progress of Montenegro on its way to the European Union. In general, for the further progress of Podgorica towards the European Union, the commitment of political actors to the European agenda, as well as the ability to resolve internal blockages, will be key. It is precisely from the anti-Montenegrin parties that we should expect some further obstructions," Picula pointed out.
It is worrisome, says Picula, that part of the parties of the parliamentary majority openly operate on platforms that, as he says, advocate anti-European policies.
"Initiatives such as changing the Constitution, the Law on Dual Citizenship, and the attempt to adopt the Law on Foreign Agents are particularly dangerous, which, in my opinion, would directly threaten the foundations on which the European perspective of Montenegro is built. I hope that Prime Minister Spajić meant that when he said that he will not allow anyone to threaten the European path of Montenegro", said Picula.
The news that Picula is the new rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia was greeted by the authorities in Belgrade with criticism and accusations that he is a man who leads an anti-Serbian policy. Commenting on the attempts to discredit the Serbian authorities, Picula said that he continuously pursues a pro-European and by no means anti-Serbian policy and that he is ready to talk to everyone who cares about Serbia's successful path to membership in the European Union.
"I am never ready to apologize to anyone for my political views. I think it is about some kind of search for an alibi, for some possible future setbacks in Serbia's accession to the European Union. Serbia's European ambitions certainly do not depend on a single representative of the European Parliament. Rather, it will be that the European future of Serbia depends on a man who has real levers of power in that country and the ability, if he wants to, to support the changes that are inevitable, so that the negotiation process towards the European Union can be successfully concluded," said Picula.
He reminds that the Serbian leadership has been dissatisfied with his political views for a long time, which is why there was a violent reaction by the authorities and various, as he says, radical groups.
"I tell them that the situation in Serbia cannot really be changed for the better with insults and incitement. In order not to leave it unsaid, I must say that I am extremely pleased with the great support of many citizens and organizations that I receive from Serbia, because I really think that I will justify the expectations of the pro-European citizens of Serbia and all those who have a European Serbia at heart", said Picula.
As a member of the European Parliament, Picula recalls, for the last ten years he actively participated in the supervision of the accession process of candidate countries from the Western Balkans. He dealt with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro.
"Today I am a reporter for the most influential among the Western Balkan countries - Serbia. Many elements of the unfinished democratic transition of Serbia are very much felt in some neighboring countries, especially in Montenegro. That is why the experience of the European rapporteur for Montenegro will be extremely important to me in my new job", concluded Tonino Picula.