Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro’s EU accession talks have entered the final year and it’s time to start discussing the Accession Treaty, said EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.

She told Brussels-based Politico that the talks between Brussels and Podgorica on Montenegro EU membership have entered the final year. 

“It is time to start discussing the Accession Treaty for Montenegro”, said Kos, adding that the European Commission is currently in the final phase of preparing the draft treaty.

According to her, the next step is determining “which safeguards we need to ensure that future member states continue to respect their commitments after accession”. 

“This is an important lesson learned from past enlargement”, Kos said.

According to Politico, the unnamed reason for that caution is Hungary, which was admitted in the EU’s most recent expansion wave in 2004.

“We need an insurance policy against the risk of Trojan horses in the EU, countries that work against our common objectives”, Kos said.

Politico reports that among the limits proposes by the EC are “innovative” safeguards to protect the EU’s budget, core policies and decision-making structures, including the commitment to loyal cooperation.