Zenović: Negotiating structure’s success, focus on the final stage of negotiations

“This is a success that should give us additional impetus, but also an awareness of the responsibility ahead of us,” said Montenegro’s chief negotiator with the European Union, Predrag Zenović, at a working breakfast with members of the negotiating structure. At the working breakfast, organized במסגרת the PLAC Project, it was highlighted that Montenegro had submitted all final negotiating positions for the remaining 12 negotiating chapters, achieving an important success for the negotiating structure and taking a significant step toward concluding the accession negotiations. He said this entails intensive cooperation with the European Commission and the member states, effective coordination among institutions, consistent implementation of reforms, and technical, legal-technical and linguistic preparations for the Accession Treaty. The chief negotiator said that, in order to monitor obligations more effectively, monthly meetings of working groups and quarterly cluster meetings would continue, along with additional workshops dedicated to monitoring, reporting and evidence of reform implementation. Particular attention will be paid to identifying obstacles in a timely manner, strengthening administrative capacities and preserving the institutional knowledge necessary for the final phase of negotiations and future membership. PLAC Project team leader Tatjana Tomić said that the most difficult phase of the process had been completed, but that equally intensive work on harmonizing legislation lay ahead, given that European legislation is constantly changing.