Montenegro looking to apply for EU candidate status next year
February 26, 2007
BUDVA, Montenegro -- Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Gordana Djurovic said on February 23rd that Montenegro could submit an official application for a EU candidate status next year, if it implements the necessary requirements.
Her comment came during a conference on human rights, organised by the Montenegrin Helsinki Committee in Budva. Committee chief Slobodan Franovic stressed that one such priority related to EU integration progress is the adoption of a new constitution that would provide a democratic system of human rights and freedoms (Source: SE Times).
Given Montenegro’s poor track record on human and minority rights the Helsinki Committee will have to seriously weigh its readiness and preparedness to join at a time when Montenegro’s state institutions are coming under attack by European policy-makers and human rights activists as being corrupt, dysfunctional and abusive, especially towards its national minorities. In addition, Montenegro’s strained economy and social/ethnic cleavages create a real concern for EU observers as this tiny state tries to mock itself as ready and qualified to join.
February 26, 2007
BUDVA, Montenegro -- Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Gordana Djurovic said on February 23rd that Montenegro could submit an official application for a EU candidate status next year, if it implements the necessary requirements.
Her comment came during a conference on human rights, organised by the Montenegrin Helsinki Committee in Budva. Committee chief Slobodan Franovic stressed that one such priority related to EU integration progress is the adoption of a new constitution that would provide a democratic system of human rights and freedoms (Source: SE Times).
Given Montenegro’s poor track record on human and minority rights the Helsinki Committee will have to seriously weigh its readiness and preparedness to join at a time when Montenegro’s state institutions are coming under attack by European policy-makers and human rights activists as being corrupt, dysfunctional and abusive, especially towards its national minorities. In addition, Montenegro’s strained economy and social/ethnic cleavages create a real concern for EU observers as this tiny state tries to mock itself as ready and qualified to join.
5 comments:
The list of minority grievances is exhausting. Efforts to impress such grievances upon the international community (ie., EU) should be prioritized and executed.
Time is of the essence here, and the longer time elapses without pleas of ethnic/minority discriminations, the quicker Montenegro will ascend to EU status and forever do away with adhereing to any more minority/Albanian problems.
Stand up people!!
Nobody can ascend to EU status and 'forever do away with minority rights' at the same time. Application of Montenegro for the EU candidate status is a viable CHANCE for minorities to put pressure on the state authorities for respect of their rights.
Once a stste becomes a member of the EU all requirements of adhering to their [rights] are assumed, not verified thereafter (i.e., no internal auditor is going to assess the validity of Montenegro's respects for minorities), however it may be that minorities in Montenegro will have less of a chance to make their claims for equal representation heard once they are members of the EU because by that time Montenenegro will have won its claim on the minority issue.
Just look at France's relationship with its minorities as one example.
Whatever the reason, all "infected" minorities must internationalize their shortcomings by exhibiting themselves as victims of abuse -- to the UN, COE, EU and other relavant agencies -- and then the road to "equal representation" may become more realized
Given Montenegro’s poor track record on human and minority rights the Helsinki Committee will have to seriously weigh its readiness and preparedness to join at a time when Montenegro’s state institutions are coming under attack by European policy-makers and human rights activists as being corrupt,
maybe if Montengro would pay attention to minority groups then it could actually qualify for a EU state.
Post a Comment