Page 15 - bne IntelliNews Southeastern Europe Outlook 2025

Political tension between the pro-EU authorities and the pro-Russian opposition backed by Moscow is therefore high in Moldova at the beginning of 2025. Even if the energy crisis in Transnistria is somehow settled, the parliamentary elections remain a turning point for the country’s EU accession: a still unclear win of the pro-EU forces would pave the way for four years of negotiations and the progress could be substantial. Conversely, a political crisis prompted by no majority in Parliament would give pro-Russian forces good reasons to contest even the outcome of the constitutional public referendum.
1.7 Politics – Montenegro
Montenegro started 2024 with a new, reformist government led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, whose Europe Now (PES) party won local, presidential and general elections. Spajic did not waste time and pushed for reforms that would bring his country closer to much-desired EU membership.
The country is considered the most advanced of all the Western Balkan states in its process of joining the EU. However, after the general election in 2020, when the then ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) lost its three-decade dominance, internal conflicts between the parties in the new ruling coalition have stalled reforms.
Montenegro hopes to complete EU membership talks by 2026 and be accepted into the bloc by 2028. The government has the ambition to provisionally close almost all negotiation chapters by 2025.
In October, the EC praised Podgorica’s progress in reforms and encouraged the government to take further steps in that direction.
However, the EC noted that the country’s institutions remain fragile and vulnerable to political crisis and blockages.
In the key judiciary and fundamental rights chapter, Montenegro has made good progress over the past year but remains moderately prepared. To advance further, the country needs to appoint the head of the Supreme Court, as well as to ensure proper implementation of the reformed legal framework in order to address existing challenges.
The EC also recommended constitutional changes that would align the country’s legislation with that of the EU in terms of composition and decision-making processes in the judicial council.
In the fight against corruption, the EC noted that although the country has made good progress on key reforms, it still needs to provide a solid track record of implementation of these reforms. Podgorica should urgently strengthen the effective enforcement of its legislation in terms of corruption cases, particularly those concerning high-level corruption.
Montenegro has advanced more significantly in the area of justice,
15 SE Outlook 2025 www.intellinews.com