During the EP plenary session (13 - 16 March 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate and vote on 2016 Report on Montenegro by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK). Statements by&nbsp; Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Rapporteur, Ian BORG, Maltese Presidency of the EU, and Julian KING, Member of the EC in charge of the Security Union. The resolution passes by 471 vote to 98, with 41 abstentions.

2016 Report on Montenegro: extracts from the debate (15/03) and from the vote on the report by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14649872/I135035Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Rapporteur, With regard to the planned coup and assassination, judicial investigations continue, but there is a growing consensus amongst both the Montenegrin authorities and EU governments that the planned attack on the then prime minister was a real and credible threat. I remain deeply concerned about the situation and I believe that it is illustrative of the growing presence that Russia is seeking on the ground to exert on Montenegro, and other countries for that matter in the Western Balkans region.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Rapporteur, It is clear that there is an attempt now to prevent Montenegrin accession to NATO in May, and also to disrupt its EU trajectory. (...) I am increasingly concerned by the motives of some regarding the parliamentary boycott, and I now call from this House on all of those taking part in the boycott to consider the effects of their actions and the forces that they are helping to legitimise by their continued participation in not going to parliament. As Montenegro now seeks to join NATO later this year, I think it is key that we in this House demonstrate our support for that decision. NATO and the EU are of course two very separate institutions, but from the perspective of Montenegro the two together represent a Euro-Atlanticist pivot.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Rapporteur, The door remains open to all countries of the Western Balkans towards EU membership. It is vital that we ensure this message gets across. Montenegro has shown how this can work, and I hope this will continue to be so for itself and all its neighbours.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ian BORG, Maltese Presidency of the EU, Montenegro remains the frontrunner in the accession process and it made further progress last year. (...) The Council continues to pay close attention to Montenegro&rsquo;s progress in the rule of law, which, as per the negotiating framework, determines the overall pace of Montenegro&rsquo;s negotiation process. As the report rightly points out, the legal framework and institutional set-up in this area are largely complete. Progress has been registered, but further implementation remains key, building on the results achieved so far and also leading to a strengthened and sustainable track record, in particular in the fight against corruption and organised crime.

SOUNDBITE (English), Julian KING, Member of the EC in charge of the Security Union, Opinion polls show overwhelming support for EU membership, so in many ways Montenegro is, indeed, the good news story in the region (...) Unfortunately, in Montenegro, parliament is half empty, as the opposition is boycotting the work of this key institution. We share the concerns already expressed over this, and the Commission&rsquo;s repeated message to all the political parties has been to work out a compromise and to return the political debate to parliament, where it belongs. A boycott is not a sustainable solution, even less for a negotiating country.

SOUNDBITE (English), Julian KING, Member of the EC in charge of the Security Union, Fiscal imbalances should also be addressed in a determined way by implementing the approved budget and adopting a fiscal consolidation plan. Last week&rsquo;s European Council unequivocally reaffirmed the European perspective of the Western Balkans, so this is a good moment to build momentum.

Extracts from the vote on the report by Charles TANNOCK (ECR,GB). Final result: the resolution passes by 471 vote to 98, with 41 abstention.

2016 Report on Montenegro: extracts from the debate (15/03) and from the vote on the report by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK)

Info

Description