The EESC's External Relations Section (REX) held two meetings with its Serbian and Montenegrin counterparts within the framework of the respective Joint Consultative Committees (JCCs). This joint institution enables civil society organisations from both sides to monitor the country’s accession negotiations, discuss issues of common interest, and point out concerns to be tackled on the path to joining the European Union.

On 5 April 2024, the EESC welcomed the Serbian members of the Joint Consultative Committee to Brussels to discuss the current state of play in EU-Serbia relations and the accession process negotiations with the EU. Other issues on the table included the opportunities for Serbia presented by the new Growth Plan and Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, the post-election situation in the country and an overview of its state of democracy and the rule of law.

The event saw the participation of the newly appointed Head of Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, Danijel Apostolović, who underlined the common position between the EU and Serbia for closer cooperation regarding all relevant issues for Serbia’s accession negotiation talks.

EESC Vice-President for Communication, Laurentiu Plosceanu, stressed the importance of these meetings as they guarantee the presence of civil society representatives, so as to enhance the narrative of European accession in Serbia. 

The meeting ended with the adoption of a joint declaration, which will be forwarded to the EU institutions and to local authorities and government in Serbia.

You can watch a video report of the meeting here.

On May 13, member of the EU-Serbia JCC Nataša Vučković was elected the new president of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA). The EESC was represented at the ALDA General Assembly in Barcelona by Mr Plosceanu, who congratulated Ms Vučković on her appointment. 

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The 18th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) took place in Podgorica on 16 April and sent a clear message to the EU institutions that Montenegro is firmly committed to becoming the 28th EU Member State by 2028.

The JCC members encouraged their organisations, the national authorities and the EU institutions to spare no effort in accomplishing the rule of law interim benchmarks. Obtaining the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) for the rule of law by June will be a turning point in the EU accession process, enabling the provisional closing of other chapters.

Co-chair and EESC member Decebal-Ștefăniță Padure said: ‘The Montenegrin authorities should fulfil their ambitious goals, and organised civil society should be involved in every step of the accession negotiations.’ Co-chair from the Montenegrin side, Gordana Đurović, called on all stakeholders to support the efforts to obtain a positive report from the Commission by June.

The chief negotiator, Dr Predrag Zenović, pointed out the important role and concrete help of civil society in the negotiation process, with public support for Montenegro's EU membership reaching 80%.

EU Ambassador to Montenegro Oana Cristina Popa noted that Montenegro seemed to have finally found the necessary stability to focus on EU accession as its main strategic priority, adding: ‘We will all endeavour to ensure that this opportunity is not missed.’

At the end of the meeting, a Joint Declaration was adopted, which will be presented to the Stabilisation and Association Committee, the Parliamentary Committee for Stabilisation and Association, the European External Action Service, the European Commission and the Government of Montenegro. (at)