If Brussels accepts to change the rules of the negotiation process, as suggested by the French president, Mr Emmanuel Macron, that means there won’t be any deadlines for Montenegro and other WB countries. Mr Macron’s plan is some sort of a punishment-award system, because it envisages that candidate counties should be integrated into the Union following chapter by chapter principle and that they should have an access to Brussels funds as soon as they close a chapter . Also, the plan suggests that candidate countries should be deprived of benefits if they fail to implement reforms.
Therefore, Macron’s plan envisages the blockade in the process, in case a candidate country fails to reform the internal system in accordance with the EU recommendations.
“Once again, we reiterate our full support for the WB countries’ European aspirations. Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia belong to Europe. Closer ties with the EU are the only way t consolidate these countries on the grounds of the rule of law, open and pluralist societies, and to continue to give young people perspective and future, promote reconciliation among nations”, reads the document.
Slow transformations
“Profound political, economic and social transformations, necessary for the EU accession, are still very slow. A new approach to the process is necessary concerning reforms and full harmonization with the rule of law”, reads Macron’s document.
French president suggests that accession process should be more gradual and more stimulating.
“Once the negotiation process is open, the integration process wouldn’t be based on simultaneous opening of a great number of theme chapters. Closing chapters that correspond to every phase that a country had completed would open the possibility for participation in the EU programs, involvement in specific policy sectors and, where appropriate, using some finances for particular purposes. In order to reach the next phase, countries would be obliged to efficiently meet criteria. Rule of law and fundamental rights will be in the focus during the entire negotiation process”, reads the document.
STOP is also an option
In his document, Mr Macron also lists the benefits that Montenegro and other countries would gain if they worked diligently on implementing reforms and followed the instructions of Brussels.
He suggests establishment of reversibility principle for settling situations in which a candidate country, partially or in its entirety, fails to meet the criteria or fulfill the assumed tasks. EU’s response would be proportionate to the seriousness of the omission.
Macron’s plan will be before European ministers for general affairs tomorrow.
Raonić: The ball is in our court
President of Civil Alliance, Mr Boris Raonić, says that this document was a step to right direction as it emphasizes openness to the countries in the region.
“With new rules, the ball is in our court now. I hope EU members will agree on the paper so that, together with EC, they can move into faster reforms and efficient accession process”, says Mr Raonić.
He thinks this is some sort of injustice to Montenegro, which now has to face a new model, although it has gone very far in the negotiation process.
“But the fact that reform process will be accelerated is more important”, says Raonić.
