European Commission Critiques Montenegro’s Interior Law Amendments

The European Commission has raised concerns regarding the recent amendments to Montenegro’s Law on Internal Affairs, stating that they do not align with the legal framework of the European Union. Nikola Zirojević, a member of the European Parliament, emphasized that this assessment supports warnings previously issued about the law’s compliance.

Zirojević has called on Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to dismiss the Minister of Internal Affairs, Danilo Šaranović. He accused Šaranović of misleading the public by asserting that the law was compliant with EU standards, while also claiming that its adoption was a prerequisite for closing Chapter 24 of EU negotiations. Zirojević noted that the European Commission’s opinion directly contradicts this assertion.

In a statement, Zirojević highlighted the potential implications of allowing such legislation to remain in place. “Given that the Minister of Internal Affairs, supported by anti-European party members, has openly lied about this law’s compliance, we expect Prime Minister Spajić to take action against Šaranović for his activities that oppose Montenegro’s European path,” he stated.

Zirojević also urged the Prime Minister to reconsider the role of the Democratic Party in the government. He expressed concern over the party’s ongoing attempts to divert Montenegro from its EU trajectory. “The proposal of such an anti-European law is just one of many attempts to undermine our progress. If the Prime Minister is genuinely committed to Montenegro’s European integration, he should reevaluate cooperation with the most anti-European political entity in the Montenegrin Parliament,” Zirojević insisted.

The urgency of this situation was further underscored by comments made by Tomislav Sokol, a member of the European Parliament, during a recent meeting of the European Parliament Delegation for Montenegro. Zirojević’s statements reflect a growing frustration within segments of the Montenegrin political landscape regarding the perceived threats posed by current legislative actions.

In addition to advocating for the dismissal of Šaranović, Zirojević called on the Montenegrin government to withdraw this “distorted, anti-European law” from parliamentary consideration. He encouraged members of the Movement for Europe Now to heed the advice of Miodrag Laković, the chair of the Committee on Security and Defense, who he described as a rational voice in the current political climate.

As Montenegro continues its path towards EU integration, the outcome of this legislative debate will be closely monitored, with significant implications for the country’s political stability and its relationship with European institutions.