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The president of Montenegro outlines 4 eventualities wherein the candidate international locations can interact with the enlargement of the EU, with just one – wherein each side play their position totally within the democratization course of – is good.
It is encouraging that one of many seven priorities of the brand new European Commission is explicitly targeted on enlargement, imagining a Europe that’s not solely bigger but in addition stronger on the world scene.
From the perspective of the candidate international locations, we’re inspired by the renewed momentum in Brussels and all through the EU. This momentum has aroused an actual urge for food for the brand new Member States and I discover it stimulating. When I used to be elected president of Montenegro final 12 months, I set an formidable however realizable purpose: Montenegro, as an infactory among the many candidate international locations, to turn into the twenty eighth EU Member State by 2028.
Montenegro is the nation that already holds the belonging to NATO, has been in step with the frequent international coverage of the EU within the final decade, has the euro as forex (though unilaterally) and what I prefer to underline : has a powerful civil and media sector free and impartial. The nation naturally has challenges and political turbulence, as has carried out another democratic and pluralistic society, however these are a part of a democratization course of, relatively than the consequence of its failure.
The reforms in Montenegro have been strongly guided by the promise of adhesion to the EU and the legitimacy that the political events derive from it. In truth, most, if not everybody, the political events in Montenegro are publicly engaged within the integration of the EU. Although the sincerity of those commitments will be questioned and if they’re merely declarative or really substantial, nevertheless, contemplating that over 80 % of the inhabitants helps belonging to the EU, it’s clear why adherence to the EU is one So vital supply of political legitimacy in political montenegrin.
However, the transformative energy of the EU path will not be distinctive for Montenegro; We have seen comparable results in different international locations: Croatia (our solely approximate neighbor who’s already a member), Slovenia, one other nation with which we have now shared a joint historical past for a while, in addition to many different international locations in central and japanese Europe. During my earlier profession as an economist on the EBRD, I first noticed the transformative energy of the EU in these international locations, an unparalleled energy from the affect of another exterior actors.
In contemplating how enlargement might happen, there are 4 principal eventualities, every with lasting penalties for each the EU and the candidate international locations:
Scenario one: The candidate nation can not use the EU adhesion course of for democratic or institutional progress and, consequently, the EU doesn’t admit it. The result’s a transparent lack of loss, leaving the EU with incomplete democracies on its borders and within the candidate nation with out the advantages of belonging to the EU, with de-democratization forces that keep it up the command. Needless to say, this state of affairs can be welcomed by EU opponents, who can due to this fact totally train their affect.
Scenario Due: The candidate nation makes use of the manufacturing course of in a productive method – establishments for development and progress of democratic requirements – Yet will not be but accepted by the EU. History reveals that this state of affairs usually results in the regression and reversal of democratic earnings. Here too, each events ultimately lose lengthy -term. Yet some may very well be extra capable of proceed alongside a constructive path and construct a steady democracy rooted within the rule of regulation. Unfortunately, historical past teaches us in a different way.
Scenario Tre: The candidate nation reveals inadequate democratic progress, however the EU admits it nonetheless primarily based solely on geopolitical issues. Some help this strategy, whatever the state of reforms. While this may appear to fulfill each the enlargement of the EU and the ambitions of the candidate international locations, particularly for the foremost sources of financing for growth, in actuality it isn’t sustainable. In the long run, each the EU and the nation endure, for the reason that basic values such because the state of regulation and efficient governance are put aside. In addition, this state of affairs might additionally profit from the opponents, providing them the chance to train affect inside the EU.
Scenario 4 (The advantageous state of affairs): each events do their half. The candidate nation takes benefit of the adhesion course of to hold out genuine democratic progress and construct strong establishments, additionally adorning its public administration, permitting a free media surroundings and specializing in sustainable financial growth, due to this fact it’s welcomed within the EU. This is the best end result: one which ensures shared progress, resilience and stability. It is that this state of affairs that I imagine that we should all attempt to attain.
This is precisely what I think about for Montenegro. We should use the EU’s adhesion course of – this highly effective nonetheless exterior – to information reforms and fortify our democracy, making certain that we be part of the EU as a totally ready and dedicated Member State. It is due to this fact important to profit from the adhesion course of now.
For this purpose, enlargement shouldn’t solely concern monetary revenue, since there are numerous international roads to draw investments with maybe much less situations required. What we should always consider a lot of the EU is the set of rules that helps. We attempt to construct an organization anchored to the rule of regulation, to good authorities and to equal alternatives. These basic values make the EU adhesion a purpose that’s value pursuing.
As president of Montenegro, I’m dedicated to guiding my nation by means of this important part of our European journey. I hope each the EU international locations and the candidates will work collectively to acquire a very advantageous state of affairs for everybody, one who not solely improves the power and unity of the Union, but in addition helps the candidates to turn into accountable and democratic family members European.
I’m deeply satisfied that the adhesion of Montenegro to the EU is a political milestone larger than itself; It would exhibit that the method is alive, that the reforms really pay, that the brand new political tradition pays and will turn into successful story and an instance for all different candidate international locations, if all of us interact within the genuine reform agenda.
