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.
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.
Den 5 april 2024 bjöd EESK in de serbiska medlemmarna av den gemensamma rådgivande kommittén till Bryssel för att diskutera det aktuella läget i förbindelserna mellan EU och Serbien samt anslutningsförhandlingarna med EU. Andra frågor som diskuterades var de möjligheter som den nya tillväxtplanen och faciliteten för reformer och tillväxt för västra Balkan för med sig för Serbien. Även situationen i landet efter valet samt det övergripande tillståndet för demokratin och rättsstatsprincipen i landet diskuterades.
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.
EESK:s vice ordförande med ansvar för kommunikation, Laurentiu Plosceanu, betonade att dessa sammanträden är viktiga eftersom de garanterar närvaron av företrädare för det civila samhället, i syfte att stärka budskapet om EU-anslutningen i Serbien.
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.
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 28thEU 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.’ Medordföranden från Montenegros sida, Gordana Đurović, uppmanade alla berörda parter att stödja ansträngningarna för att uppnå en positiv rapport från kommissionen i juni.
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.’
I slutet av sammanträdet antogs en gemensam förklaring som kommer att läggas fram för stabiliserings- och associeringskommittén, den parlamentariska stabiliserings- och associeringskommittén, Europeiska utrikestjänsten, Europeiska kommissionen och Montenegros regering. (at)
