Statement of MEP Vladimír Bilčík, Chair of the EU-Montenegro SAPC and MEP Tonino Picula, EP Standing Rapporteur on Montenegro ahead of the Montenegrin Parliamentary elections on 30 August 2020
We acknowledge the great responsibility of all relevant public institutions ahead of the Montenegrin parliamentary elections on 30 August 2020. Conducting elections during the current pandemic has been a challenging task across Europe. The state must ensure that citizens are able to express their vote freely and exercise their constitutional rights in unrestrained manner, while respecting stringent health recommendations and guidelines for the sake of public safety. We urge the Montenegrin authorities to apply their utmost efforts in these extraordinary times in order to organise the upcoming parliamentary elections fully in line with international standards for free and fair elections.
We hope that Sunday's vote will contribute to Montenegro's stability and represent a further step in achieving its European future. Already a member of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization, Montenegro is anchored in Europe's security structures and needs to continue and strengthen its commitment towards EU membership. We acknowledge and appreciate the progress achieved by Montenegro on the country's EU path so far, including the opening of all negotiating chapters. It is now important to concentrate urgently on accomplishing crucial domestic reforms. We are ready to assist and work closely with our future partners in the Montenegrin Parliament in their important tasks and look forward to resuming our political cooperation once the country's new institutions are in place after parliamentary elections.
We would like to express our deepest sympathies to all people in Montenegro who have lost their family members and friends in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a symbol of the EU's solidarity during these difficult times we have mobilized unprecedented medical and financial support for the country. We wish all citizens of Montenegro a peaceful and safe election day on 30 August.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP