Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro is facing an exceptionally demanding year in its EU accession process, said European Parliament Rapporteur for Montenegro Marjan Sarec and called all actors to stakeholders to exercise wisdom and responsibility to ensure that minor disputes do not overshadow broader strategic objectives.

Sarec prepared the draft EU Report on Montenegro, based on the European Commission’s reports for last year. 

In the draft Report, Sarec stated that Montenegro continues to be recognized as the frontrunner in the EU accession process and, over the past year, has taken steps that confirm this status. 

He pointed out that Montenegro’s EU path is not only defined by technical negotiations, but that it is also shaped by day-to-day politics with its various competing interests.

“Montenegro is facing an exceptionally demanding year – time is short and there is much work to be done. Therefore, this report should serve both as recognition of the progress achieved so far and as encouragement for the period ahead”, Sarec wrote.

He added that the report should be understood as a call to all stakeholders to exercise wisdom and responsibility, to ensure that minor disputes do not overshadow – or derail – the broader strategic objectives.

The document stresses the need for political stability and constructive cross-party cooperation in this regard, recalls that genuine progress depends on the effective implementation of the reforms that have been adopted and on enduring results in the area of the rule of law and encourages Montenegro to further advance its implementation of the closing benchmarks, particularly for Chapters 23 and 24.

“The EP remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilizing activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro” the report reads.

The presentation of the draft report is scheduled for the end of February before the EP Foreign Affairs Committee.

The vote is expected to take place in May, followed by a vote at the plenary session in Strasbourg in June.