Montenegro im Kontext der Europäischen Integration
Montenegro in the Context of European Integration

Summary/Abstract: The text represents a speech delivered by the representative of the European Council at the opening of a conference organized by the Southeast Europe Association on March 28-30, 2003, at Herceg Novi, Montenegro, entitled “Dialogue on the Future of the Western Balkan Region: Montenegro”. According to the author, the Belgrade Agreement and the Constitutional Charter, laying the basis of the new union of Serbia and Montenegro, were an outcome of Belgrade’s and Podgorica’s free decision and were not imposed on them by the EU, as some observers have claimed. The new arrangement leaves a maximum of powers with the republics. Its functioning depends on the free will of both sides to trustfully cooperate with each other. Putting the new union to live requires an enormous endeavour. A number of important institutions have still to be established and the federal parliament still has to do a lot of legislative work. Out of the many challenges for the near future, the harmonization of the two economic areas with a functioning internal market and a unified tariff system is considered to be the most urgent one. The EU’s process of stabilisation and association is a mayor incentive for Montenegro to proceed in its reform process. Whereas meeting the EU’s expectations means considerable hardship for Montenegro, according to the author, the efforts are worth being made, as the EU is offering the countries of Southeast Europe a clear perspective for integration.

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