PODGORICA – Montenegro’s Ministry of European Affairs on Sunday called on the media to carefully verify information concerning the country’s EU accession negotiations, after reports emerged that five EU member states had sought to halt Montenegro’s accession process. Claims are also denied by the EU Delegation in Podgorica.
The Ministry said that, as the negotiations approach their final stage, there has been an increase in disinformation and content displaying characteristics of both domestic and foreign information manipulation, particularly regarding the positions of EU member states, the pace of negotiations and the closure of negotiating chapters.
It urged the media to distinguish between official information and unofficial claims and speculation, and to verify information concerning the negotiation process with the Montenegrin government and the relevant EU institutions before publication.
Podgorica-based daily Dan reported on Saturday, citing an unnamed source in Brussels, that the Netherlands had requested a pause in Montenegro’s further EU integration in order to allow for an additional assessment of the country’s compliance with EU standards.
According to Dan, Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia joined the Dutch request, making it uncertain when Montenegro could close additional negotiating chapters and hold its next intergovernmental conference.
The EU Delegation in Podgorica dismissed the claims as unfounded, noting that the scheduling of intergovernmental conferences and the closure of negotiating chapters require the completion of the relevant procedures, compliance with EU standards and the consent of all member states.
At the same time, the Delegation said Montenegro had made significant progress in its accession negotiations but needed to continue implementing the remaining reforms, particularly in the area of the rule of law.
Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević told RTCG on Sunday that there was neither a political nor a technical blockade of Montenegro’s EU path and that the member states had not slowed down the negotiation procedures.
She said Chapter 18, covering statistics, and Chapter 19, covering social policy and employment, were ready to be closed, but that the completion of the procedure in the Dutch parliament was still required.
