Lessons learnt from Croatia’s negotiations will help EU Commission in Montenegro’s entry talks

Published date: 23.01.2012 16:59 | Author: Biro

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Podgorica, Montenegro (23 January 2012) – Montenegro will open the EU accession talks with chapters 23 and 24, the most important ones, and the lessons learnt from Croatia’s experience will help the European Commission to carry out a successful negotiation process with Montenegro, Head of Unit for Montenegro and Croatia at the EU Directorate General for Enlargement Dirk Lange said during his meeting earlier today with Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Duško Marković.

Mr Lange told Mr Marković that the Commission has been tasked by the EU Council to prepare the negotiation framework, undertake legislation screening in regard to chapters 23 and 24, and draft a report on the implementation of legislation as regards these chapters.

DPM Marković told Mr Lange that the Government’s priorities for the first half of 2012 include the analysis of implementation of legislation adopted last year and fight against organised crime and corruption. He emphasised, however, that the Government’s primary task in 2012 is to bring together a negotiation team and noted that the names will probably be known in late January or early February.

He also stated that the broad structure of the negotiation team envisaged by the Government means that the team members, in addition to state administration professionals, will come from the civil society, academia, and the expert community.

The officials agreed that in order to finalise the reform processes in the area of judiciary it is necessary to amend the constitution as suggested by the Venice Commission.