The EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) took place in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 13 - 14 March 2024.
The committee discussed:
1. The state of play of accession negotiations and EU - Montenegro relations,
2. Rule of law reform, including judicial appointments and the fight against crime and corruption, and
3. Media freedom and the fight against foreign interference and disinformation.
The EP Delegation was led by Vladimir Bilčík (EPP, SK) and the Montenegrin Co-Chair is Skupština Vice-President Boris Pejović (EUROPE NOW party). The Chief Negotiator of Montenegro with the European Union, Mr Predrag Zenović, as well as a representatives of the Belgian Presidency of the Council, the European Commission and the EEAS also participated. This was the 21st SAPC meeting. The previous one took place online in December 2021, as meetings planned in 2022 and 2023 had to be postponed.
Co-Chair Bilčík expressed "satisfaction that the SAPC met after more than two years", adding that "this was another opportunity to signal that Montenegro's accession process is back on track. The current enlargement impetus and the recent promising measures in the judicial sector taken by Montenegro, and its Parliament in particular, could create the necessary momentum to deliver on long-overdue reforms. Solid parliamentary cooperation with our partners in the Skupština Crne Gore is an important part of this effort and will be key for Montenegro on its EU accession path".
The SAPC's Recommendations to the Stabilisation and Association Council and to the institutions of Montenegro and of the European Union can be found below.
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP