EU’s Johan Satler Sets Ambitious Goals for Montenegro’s Progress

The European Union’s chief negotiator for Montenegro, Johan Satler, announced that Brussels expects Montenegro to close five chapters of its accession negotiations by the end of this year. Speaking to TV Vijesti, Satler emphasized the importance of the next 14 months, during which Montenegro must complete a challenging agenda that includes the closure of 25 chapters in total.

Satler stated, “Yesterday we celebrated, today we must get back to work. The next 14 months are crucial because we need to finish demanding tasks and close 25 chapters. By the end of the year, we hope to close five chapters, which leaves us with 20 for next year.” This ambitious plan highlights the EU’s commitment to assisting Montenegro in its journey toward full membership.

A key focus for the EU involves Chapters 23 and 24, which pertain to the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organized crime. Satler noted that EU member states will closely monitor Montenegro’s concrete results in these areas. He pointed out the political stability demonstrated when both the government and opposition unanimously supported electoral reform laws. This level of unity is expected again during the selection of judges for the Constitutional Court, members of the Prosecutorial Council, and the appointment of a vice governor of the Central Bank.

In addition to legislative tasks, the EU’s visa policy was a significant topic of discussion. When asked about Montenegro’s recent decision to impose visa requirements on Turkish citizens, Satler acknowledged earlier missteps in the year but noted that Montenegro rectified the situation last month by removing four countries from its visa-free regime. He stated, “We do not comment on individual cases and do not dictate which country should be removed from Montenegro’s list. However, I can say that Montenegro is acting appropriately in this regard, and we expect this trend to continue in the coming year.”

The European Commission has also called on Montenegro to legally resolve the appointment of the director for the Public Service. Satler remarked, “Regarding the election of the Public Service director, you have seen what is stated in the report. Our aim is to avoid extremely lengthy court proceedings, and we have called for these processes to be concluded. Depending on the judicial outcome, further steps will be taken.”

In a related note, Marta Kos, the European Commissioner, hinted that new member states might be admitted on a trial basis to prevent the entry of “Russian Trojan horses” into the EU. When asked about the likelihood of this approach affecting Montenegro, Satler did not believe it would. He announced that preparations for the accession agreement for Montenegro would soon be on the agenda for the European Council and expressed confidence that there was nothing indicating a limitation of Montenegro’s voting rights in the EU.

As Montenegro navigates these critical negotiations, the next steps will be pivotal to its European integration journey. The country must demonstrate tangible progress in these areas to meet the expectations set forth by the European Union.