2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Montenegro

The European Parliament adopted by 470 votes to 102 against, with 77 abstentions, a resolution on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Montenegro.

Commitment to EU accession

Members acknowledged Montenegro's strong commitment to European Union membership. They reaffirmed their full support for the country's future membership in the Union and welcomed the overwhelming support of Montenegrin citizens and the majority of political stakeholders for EU membership in 2028.

Montenegro has gone furthest in the accession process, with all 33 chapters of the EU acquis open and six provisionally closed. Members encouraged all political actors to remain focused on European integration and the necessary reforms and to move swiftly and more effectively towards closing other chapters in 2025, in order to meet the country's ambitious timetable.

Parliament welcomed the country's full alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, including EU sanctions against Russia, and commended Montenegro for its support for the rules-based international order within the United Nations. It also highlighted the strategic importance of Montenegro's NATO membership and welcomed its active participation in missions and operations under the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy.

Fight against foreign interference

Members remained concerned about malicious foreign interference, destabilisation efforts, cyberattacks, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns, including attempts to influence political processes and public opinion, by third-country actors, which discredit the Union and jeopardise Montenegro's progress towards accession. Montenegro is called upon to adopt countermeasures in enhanced cooperation with the Union and NATO and through increased regional cooperation among the Western Balkan countries.

Democracy and rule of law

Noting with concern the resurgence of tensions and ethnic polarisation, which are slowing down the reform process, Parliament called for constructive dialogue and consensus-building across the political spectrum. It expressed concern about attempts to amend the Montenegrin citizenship law in the Montenegrin Parliament.

Parliament encouraged Montenegro to:

- fully align its electoral legal framework with Union standards, in particular as regards the harmonisation of electoral legislation, transparency, dispute resolution mechanisms, campaign and media monitoring, as well as the financing of political parties and electoral campaigns;

- strengthen transparency and control of political party spending and prevent the misuse of public resources;

- provide the country with a framework for the professionalisation, optimisation and rationalisation of public administration;

- further align its legal framework with Union legislation and standards on the independence, accountability, impartiality, integrity and professionalism of the judiciary and continue to depoliticise appointments;

- take measures to reduce the length of legal proceedings, particularly in cases of serious and organised crime, including money laundering;

- intensify its criminal justice response to serious corruption and create the conditions enabling judicial institutions and independent bodies responsible for fighting corruption to operate effectively, free from political influence;

- align its arms legislation with Union law and urgently align its visa policy with that of the Union, especially as regards countries posing irregular migration or security risks to the EU.

Fundamental freedoms and human rights

Regretting that the most vulnerable groups in society continue to face discrimination, Members called on Montenegro to adopt a new anti-discrimination law to improve access to rights for vulnerable groups. They called for stronger implementation to ensure equal treatment for all ethnic, religious, national, and social groups.

Montenegro is invited to:

- address the difficult living conditions of the Roma population in Montenegro;

- implement strategies to ensure respect for the rights of persons with disabilities;

- strengthen institutional mechanisms for gender equality, strengthen its efforts to combat discrimination against women and fully align its definitions of gender-based violence and domestic violence with those of the Istanbul Convention. The draft law on legal gender recognition should be adopted without delay;

- conduct effective investigations and prosecute all cases of hate speech, smear campaigns and SLAPPs against journalists;

- guarantee the editorial, institutional and financial independence of the public broadcasting service RTCG, taking into account the strong polarisation of the media and their vulnerability to political interests and foreign influence.

Parliament recalled that good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation are essential elements of the enlargement process. It welcomed the bilateral consultations between the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro on unresolved bilateral disputes. It called on Montenegro to adopt a proactive approach in dealing with war crimes cases.

Socioeconomic reforms

The resolution encouraged Montenegro to make the best use of all available EU funding under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III), the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, the Instrument for Pre-Accession for Rural Development (IPARD) and the Western Balkans Facility for Reform and Growth, to accelerate socio-economic convergence with the EU, and to continue aligning its legislation with EU legislation on fraud prevention.

Lastly, Montenegro is urged to advance the green transition with the support of EU funds, improve its institutional and regulatory framework, and enhance its energy resilience by adopting the National Energy and Climate Plan, adopting energy efficiency laws, and further integrating into EU energy markets.