Montenegro’s EU Ambassador Calls for Objective Rule-of-Law Benchmarks in Accession Safeguards

Montenegro supports the introduction of new safeguards to prevent future EU member states from backsliding on democratic standards and the rule of law, but these measures must be grounded in clear and objective criteria for evaluating systemic breaches, according to the country’s ambassador to the bloc.

The ambassador, Petar Marković, made the remarks to Euronews as Brussels grapples with proposals to reform the enlargement process, with five of the six EU founding members pushing for stronger post-accession protections following the democratic challenges seen in Hungary under Viktor Orbán.

Marković said that Podgorica, which is the most advanced candidate country on track to become the 28th EU member, already meets or exceeds certain rule-of-law benchmarks set by the European Commission for existing members.

“Montenegro has a vested interest in guarantees designed to uphold EU standards. However, any potential breaches must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis through objective criteria that demonstrate a pattern of systematic regression,” he stated.

He emphasized that such criteria should be agreed upon before accession is finalized and cautioned against the use of transitional arrangements that could effectively downgrade a new member’s voting rights — a move he described as politically and legally problematic.

At the same time, Marković acknowledged that adopting stricter safeguards could ease the ratification of Montenegro’s accession by providing additional reassurance to skeptical founding states, particularly amid a rightward shift in some political establishments across the EU.

Concerns Over Late Changes to Enlargement Rules

On the broader reform front, Marković engaged with the proposal for “gradual integration,” championed by France and Germany, which would allow candidate countries to access certain benefits of EU membership earlier in the process.

While welcoming the renewed focus on enlargement in European capitals, Marković warned against altering the methodology at such a late stage.

“After 14 years of intensive work in the accession process, it would be unfair to change the rules now, especially when Montenegro was the first country to embrace the current framework and is the most advanced candidate nearing completion,” he said.

He stressed that discussions on a new methodology should focus on those candidates for whom the existing system has not been effective, adding that for Montenegro, the current approach has worked.

“Strategically, the stakes could not be higher. The EU has a genuine opportunity to reverse the Brexit effect and resume meaningful expansion,” Marković concluded.

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