EU gives Montenegro date for start of membership talks

EU foreign ministers agreed today that Montenegro can start EU accession negotiations on June 29, it was said at the ministerial meeting held in Luxembourg. The Council adopted the assessment of the European Commission that Montenegro has reached the necessary degree of compliance with the criteria for EU membership, says the Council's conclusions, in which Montenegro is urged to intensify its efforts in fighting organized crime and corruption. EU gives Montenegro date for start of membership talks Montenegro will officially start EU membership negotiations on June 29, by opening a chapter related to the rule of law and basic human rights. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele welcomed the decision with a message on his Twitter account. According to reports, Germany and Belgium were among those who were in favor of giving Montenegro a date for the talks, while Sweden was of the opinion that it must be additionally determined whether strong guarantees were in place that the authorities in the Balkan country were implementing, and would fulfill the conditions related to the rule of law. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt clarified after the meeting today that Brussels will start membership talks with Montenegro "only after in-depth screening". He was further quoted as saying that the EU would carefully monitor the country's reforms concerning the rule of law, and will then based on this - and reports of the European Union law enforcement agency Europol - decide on whether to commence the negotiations. Crime and corruption Earlier in the day, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said he was worried about organized crime and corruption in the Balkans. He said he believed that the issue was particularly serious in Montenegro, whose EU accession talks was one of the topics of Tuesday's meeting between EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. Bildt stated that Sweden would block giving Montenegro a date for the start of membership negotiations, if, as he put it, the country does not offer firm assurances. "We are all concerned about organized crime and corruption in the Balkans. Those familiar with the situation in the region in the past ten years are well aware of that, and the problem is particularly serious in Montenegro. This can be seen to a certain degree in commissioner's report and in negotiation framework," Bildt told Radio Free Europe. He said he had believed that Montenegro and Serbia should get a date for the beginning of EU talks simultaneously, but added that this now depends on each country's individual progress. "I would like Bosnia to be making rapid progress as well, but, apparently, this is not the case," the Swedish official concluded. Beta Tanjug

EU gives Montenegro date for start of membership talks

Montenegro will officially start EU membership negotiations on June 29, by opening a chapter related to the rule of law and basic human rights.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele welcomed the decision with a message on his Twitter account.

According to reports, Germany and Belgium were among those who were in favor of giving Montenegro a date for the talks, while Sweden was of the opinion that it must be additionally determined whether strong guarantees were in place that the authorities in the Balkan country were implementing, and would fulfill the conditions related to the rule of law.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt clarified after the meeting today that Brussels will start membership talks with Montenegro "only after in-depth screening".

He was further quoted as saying that the EU would carefully monitor the country's reforms concerning the rule of law, and will then based on this - and reports of the European Union law enforcement agency Europol - decide on whether to commence the negotiations.

Crime and corruption

Earlier in the day, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said he was worried about organized crime and corruption in the Balkans.

He said he believed that the issue was particularly serious in Montenegro, whose EU accession talks was one of the topics of Tuesday's meeting between EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

Bildt stated that Sweden would block giving Montenegro a date for the start of membership negotiations, if, as he put it, the country does not offer firm assurances.

"We are all concerned about organized crime and corruption in the Balkans. Those familiar with the situation in the region in the past ten years are well aware of that, and the problem is particularly serious in Montenegro. This can be seen to a certain degree in commissioner's report and in negotiation framework," Bildt told Radio Free Europe.

He said he had believed that Montenegro and Serbia should get a date for the beginning of EU talks simultaneously, but added that this now depends on each country's individual progress.

"I would like Bosnia to be making rapid progress as well, but, apparently, this is not the case," the Swedish official concluded.