English

Hahn straightforwardly: Parliament boycott is unviable!

PHOTO: Iva Mandić

Boycotting the Parliament is not a viable condition, EU commissioner Johannes Hahn told Montenegrin opposition. The Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations is paying an official visit to Montenegro.

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“I think that the condition in which the opposition is boycotting the Parliament is not sustainable for a candidate country. Today I will meet opposition representatives. This is particularly important for the parties that are committed to the European perspective. The international community is observing the country and discussions in the Parliament. Nobody expects unanimous decisions, but the discussion should be held in the Parliament. We will present our view to the opposition. You must find a way to get the opposition back to the Parliament,” Han said after meeting with Prime Minister Dusko Markovic.

The new PM had a message for the opposition as well.

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“I clearly stated that we are ready to re-establish dialogue and ensure conditions for the opposition to return to the Parliament. My message to the opposition is that I want to open a dialogue and resolve this situation,” said Markovic.

As for European integration, the PM said that Montenegro had done a great job.

“The new Montenegrin government is committed to keeping the European integration the cornerstone of its foreign policy. Organisational and personnel changes in the government are a clear sign that Montenegro wants to work harder on reforms that will make it ready for the membership,” he said.

“We concluded that the establishment of the Ministry for European Affairs and Public Administration is a clear signal that Montenegro wants to work more intensely on overall reforms that will prepare Montenegro for the membership, regardless of all the challenges related to the domestic and European environment,” Markovic said.

In that sense, Montenegro has received €24m grant from the European Commission, since the 2016 IPA Financing Agreement has been signed.

Markovic said he discussed financial consolidation with Hahn.

“These days, the Montenegrin government will intensively work on those issues, ie preparing the rehabilitation plan which the 2017 budget will be based on,” Markovic said.

Hahn also commented on the Montenegrin financial situation.

“If you look at Montenegro’s debt rate, there has been a rapid growth of almost 40% in the last 5 years and it is something that you have to deal with,” he emphasised.

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