Podgorica, (MINA) – The EU expects Montenegro to demonstrate a clear balance between the investigations, criminal prosecutions and final judgments in the fight against serious and organized crime, including corruption, said European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner.

In an interview with the MINA News Agency, Brunner said that Montenegro’s progress in the past year shows that, with sufficient political will and a clear commitment to reforms, the country can achieve its strategic goals.

Asked about Montenegro’s key challenges on its EU membership path, he stressed that the most important and demanding chapters are those related to the rule of law and security.

According to Brunner, Montenegro has the EU’s support to continue on its the common path with the same determination it demonstrated over the past year.

Asked whether being part of the Western Balkans region, which is often described as a transit route for drugs, weapons and organized crime, could be a barrier for Montenegro’s EU membership, Brunner said that it would primarily represent a barrier for Montenegrin society.

He said that it would prevent Montenegro from making full use of its potential, adding that the EU offers a different perspective, and Montenegro has made the choice to become part of it. 

Asked what the EU would consider key indicators of measurable results in the fight against corruption and organized crime and whether final court verdicts in high-level corruption and organized crime cases are among the most important, Brunner replied that exactly these are strong indicators.

He said that the accession process is not limited to the adoption of legislation, although that is an important and necessary part, adding that the real transformation is the application of the law in practice.

Brunner said that clear balance between results of investigations, prosecutions and final judgments in all areas of serious and organized crime, including corruption, is what the EU expects for from a candidate country that is a proud frontrunner of the accession process.

Commenting on the cooperation with Europol and Montenegro’s credibility as a partner when it comes to the exchange of sensitive security information, Brunner said that the operational agreement with Montenegro signed in 2016 laid a solid cooperation foundation, adding that with the upcoming revision of Europol’s mandate, these operational links will become even stronger.

Asked if he sees room for a stronger Frontex presence in Montenegro, Brunner said that Montenegro is a key partner in managing the EU’s external borders, noting that nearly 80 Frontex officers are deployed at airports, ports, land borders and the Adriatic coast, adding that these efforts are producing tangible results.

He underscored that the number of illegal crossings along the Western Balkans route has been reduced by 95 percent since 2022, dangerous journeys have been prevented, and migrant smuggling networks are being dismantled.

Asked about the harmonization of Montenegro’s visa policy with that of the EU, Brunner emphasized that the alignment will be required and that he expects it to happen very soon, adding that non-compliance acts as a pull factor for illegal migration and poses a significant security risk.

Asked about the implementation of the ETIAS regulation, he said that he is concerned about the current situation with border blockades, but stressed that these measures do not serve to create obstacles for hard-working people, such as truck drivers, but that compromising security is not an option.

He added that this is why a working group has been formed that will assess the real impact of the new system on road transport and to explore all options that the existing legislation offers, while considering long-term solutions within the new visa strategy.