Chief Negotiator Predrag Zenović met today with representatives of the Rule of Law Association of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the countries of the region, led by Bart de Bruijn, Regional Rule of Law Coordinator.
The Association includes representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. The meeting served as an opportunity to exchange views on key challenges and priorities in the area of the rule of law in the context of European integration.
During the meeting, the Chief Negotiator briefed the interlocutors on the current state of Chapters 23 and 24, as well as on the planned reforms in this area. Special emphasis was placed on the informal assessments from the latest European Commission Non-Paper and on the implementation of recommendations related to the rule of law.
Regional interlocutors expressed interest in specific issues such as the implementation of EU legislation, track records, the financial resources needed to close chapters, and the priority areas in the EU accession process.
During the meeting, Montenegro’s readiness to support countries just beginning negotiations with the European Union was highlighted, through the sharing of experiences and best practices from the accession process.
“The rule of law is not only a technical criterion for progress in negotiations, but a fundamental value we strive for as a society. The reforms we are implementing in this area should leave a lasting impact and contribute to the creation of a legally secure and just system for all citizens,” emphasized the Chief Negotiator.
Representatives of the Netherlands stressed that their country will remain a strong partner to Montenegro on its continued reform path, providing support both in terms of expertise and politically, as long as concrete results are visible. It was concluded that the rule of law remains the foundation of the entire negotiation process and that countries in the region share similar challenges in this area.