EPC Dublin: Plenković Says Montenegro Holds Key to Open Croatia Issues

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, that all open issues between Croatia and Montenegro can be solved, and that Montenegro's political will is the key factor. He spoke on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) summit, which Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović and Serbia's acting president Ana Brnabić also attended.

The open issues between Croatia and Montenegro

Plenković said he had discussed eight points with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić during two visits to Montenegro over the past five months, in Tivat and Sveti Stefan. Six relate to Chapter 23 of Montenegro's EU accession talks, on the judiciary and fundamental rights, and two to Chapter 31, on foreign, security and defence policy, which covers good-neighbourly relations. He mentioned 14 missing persons about whom information is still being sought, and said two of the issues are harder because they involve judicial bodies.

Plenković denied that Croatia is putting pressure on Montenegro, pointed to Croatia's consent to the closing of some chapters, and said he expected joint solutions in the coming days.

Milatović: neighbours should not slow EU path

Milatović said open bilateral questions, including those with Croatia, should not slow Montenegro's EU accession, and that the two governments are working on them. He said hardly any European country is free of at least some minor dispute with a neighbour, and argued that Montenegro's success in the EU process is in Croatia's interest too. Montenegro is the most advanced of the candidate countries in the Western Balkans.

Brnabić on Serbia's transition

Brnabić, who is also outgoing speaker of the National Assembly, said her counterparts in Dublin welcomed what she called a peaceful and democratic transfer of power in Serbia after the 25 October election. She said she expects new institutions to be formed quickly once parliament meets on 17 November.