The European Union is actively working on Montenegro’s integration as a new member state. At an informal meeting of EU ministers for general affairs held in Ireland, Ireland’s Minister for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Björn, provided an update on the forthcoming treaty on Montenegro’s accession to the EU. An important part of this treaty will be safeguard mechanisms, the aim of which is to prevent the country from deviating from key principles such as the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.
Björn emphasised that such mechanisms are necessary in light of previous EU enlargements, when some new member states began to backtrack on their commitments. The European Commission is expected to present its proposals on these mechanisms shortly.
Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, also took part in the discussion on defining the necessary safeguards. She noted that the experience of the 2004 EU enlargement had demonstrated the importance of implementing such safeguards. Kos emphasised the need to develop a new generation of measures that would ensure respect for democracy and the rule of law in the new Member States in the long term.
Furthermore, Kos expressed confidence that all negotiation chapters with Ukraine and Moldova would be opened by the end of the year, despite resistance from Hungary. She also added that the European Union must be prepared for a new wave of enlargement and consider changing the decision-making process, moving away from unanimity in favour of a qualified majority.
In April this year, in Brussels, EU ambassadors gave the green light to the drafting of an accession treaty with Montenegro, bringing the country one step closer to becoming the 28th Member State of the European Union. It is clear that the EU is striving for a more sustainable future, in which new members will not only integrate but also actively uphold shared values and principles.