Sittings · Document

Draft report (2025/2253(INI)) 2026-03-11

2025 Commission report on Montenegro

Committee on Foreign Affairs

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Amendment 1

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Zagreb Declaration, adopted at the EU - Western Balkans summit held on 6 May 2020 in Zagreb;

Or. hr

Amendment 2

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Citation 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the EU-Western Balkans summits, held in Sofia, Zagreb and Brdo pri Kranju in 2018, 2020 and 2021, and their declarations,

Or. en

Amendment 3

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Citation 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the EU tax good governance framework and the list of jurisdictions monitored for tax purposes;

Or. hr

Amendment 4

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas enlargement is a key EU foreign policy tool and a strategic investment in peace, security and prosperity;

A. whereas enlargement pursued on the basis ideological agendas rather than on a strict and objective assessment of candidate countries’ suitability risks undermining the stability and institutional functioning of the Union, and may ultimately weaken peace, security and prosperity within the EU itself;

Or. en

Amendment 5

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas enlargement is a key EU foreign policy tool and a strategic investment in peace, security and prosperity;

A. whereas enlargement is a key EU foreign policy tool and a strategic investment in peace, security and prosperity on the European continent, particularly in the context of the evolving geopolitical landscape and the security challenges in Europe;

Or. hr

Amendment 6

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas each candidate country is judged on its own merits in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria;

B. whereas each candidate country is judged on its own merits in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria; whereas bilateral issues should be resolved bilaterally and in line with international law and should not be used to block or further politicise the enlargement process; whereas the credibility of the enlargement policy depends equally on candidate countries delivering reforms and on the European Union honouring its commitments once all conditions have been met;

Or. en

Amendment 7

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas each candidate country is judged on its own merits in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria;

B. whereas each candidate country is judged on its own merits in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, including respect and unwavering commitment for European shared rights and values and alignment with EU’s foreign and security policy;

Or. en

Amendment 8

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas each candidate country is judged on its own merits in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria;

B. whereas each candidate country is judged solely on its own merits in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, with strict, yet fair, conditionality and measurable results, particularly in the area of the rule of law;

Or. hr

Amendment 9

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas each candidate country is judged on its own merits in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria;

B. whereas each candidate country is judged on its own merits in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria; whereas there are no shortcuts to EU membership;

Or. fi

Amendment 10

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ba. whereas Montenegro applied for EU membership in 2008; whereas it was granted candidate country status in 2010; whereas negotiations began in 2012;

Or. fi

Amendment 11

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas Montenegro is the candidate country that has made the most progress towards EU accession;

C. whereas Montenegro is the candidate country that has made the most progress towards EU accession; whereas further progress is contingent on lasting results in implementing reforms, particularly in Chapters 23 and 24;

Or. hr

Amendment 12

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C. whereas Montenegro is the candidate country that has made the most progress towards EU accession;

C. whereas Montenegro is the candidate country that has made the most progress towards EU accession; whereas Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters, some of which have already been closed;

Or. fi

Amendment 13

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C a. whereas the Government of Montenegro has declaredthe ambition to become the 28th EU Member State by 2028;

Or. en

Amendment 14

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas the EU is Montenegro’s most trusted partner and is trusted by 69 % of the country’s citizens;

D. whereas the EU is Montenegro’s most trusted partner and is trusted by 69 % of the country’s citizens; whereas the level of trust that Montenegrin citizens have in the EU has been among the highest in the region;

Or. fi

Amendment 15

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas the EU is Montenegro’s most trusted partner and is trusted by 69 % of the country’s citizens;

D. whereas the EU is Montenegro’s most trusted partner and is trusted by 69 % of the country’s citizens, thus increasing the obligation on political actors for responsible, consistent and effective reform;

Or. hr

Amendment 16

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas the European Union remains Montenegro’s main economic and financial partner, being its largest trading partner; whereas the smooth functioning of trade and transport flows between Montenegro and the EU is essential for economic stability, the resilience of the supply chain and the country’s gradual integration into the EU internal market;

Or. en

Amendment 17

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas the EU is Montenegro's biggest trading partner and investor;

Or. en

Amendment 18

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas sustained political commitment both by the candidate countries and the EU is vital for maintaining the consistency, credibility, transparency and overall effectiveness of the enlargement process;

Or. en

Amendment 19

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas the stability of Montenegro is essential for the security of the Western Balkans and the EU; whereas external political projects seeking cross-border influence based on ethnic or religious affiliation risk undermining the sovereignty and constitutional order of states in the region;

Or. en

Amendment 20

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Recital D b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D b. whereas the future of the Western Balkans lies in European integration and not in competing geopolitical spheres of influence or ethnically driven regional alignments;

Or. en

Amendment 21

Cristian Terheş

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas Russia has sought to advance its influence in the Western Balkans, including in Montenegro, through the strategic deployment of religious, cultural and so-called value-based narratives aimed at shaping public discourse, influencing ecclesiastical dynamics and undermining Euro-Atlantic integration; whereas such activities are consistent with the Russian Military Doctrine approved on 25 December 2014 that emphasised the protection of so-called "traditional Russian spiritual and moral values" against perceived malign Western influence, a doctrine that was later incorporated into the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation approved by President Vladimir Putin on 31 December 2015, thereby demonstrating the Russian's use of cultural and civilisational narratives as instruments of geopolitical strategy; 1a whereas this approach was further consolidated in the 2021 National Security Strategy, which elevated the safeguarding of “traditional values”, the promotion of the “Russian World” and the protection of compatriots abroad to core state priorities framed as matters of national security and civilisational sovereignty 1b;

_________________

1a https://www.csis.org/analysis/unpacking-russias-new-national-security-strategy.

1b https://www.ndc.nato.int/fr/russias-updated-national-security-strategy/.

Or. en

Amendment 22

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas Montenegro remains vulnerable to attempts to manipulate the information space from abroad and from within; whereas the Commission has underlined the need to close the space for foreign interference and information manipulation, including disinformation, and to strengthen societal resilience; whereas Montenegro has aligned with EU reactions to cyber-attacks in 2024 and has been hosting the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre inaugurated in Podgorica on 9 December 2024, yet malign narratives continue to target democratic institutions and the country’s EU accession trajectory; whereas strengthening democratic resilience is an integral part of meeting the political criteria for accession;

Or. en

Amendment 23

Davor Ivo Stier, Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D a. whereas the pro-Russian DNP party left the ruling coalition on January 30, 2026 and challenged the Government by pursuing new legislation on dual citizenship and Serbian as official language in Montenegro;

Or. en

Amendment 24

Christophe Gomart

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Da. whereas, despite some institutional progress, corruption and organised crime remain deeply rooted in several sectors of Montenegro’s economy and public institutions, with a Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of 46/100 for the past three years, and whereas this continues to pose major challenges for the rule of law, citizens’ trust and the credibility of the accession process;

Or. fr

Amendment 25

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Da. whereas alignment with the EU acquis on taxation and tax good governance remains a cornerstone of financial stability and trust within the EU;

Or. hr

Amendment 26

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Notes the reported progress made by Montenegro in certain EU-related reforms and the stated ambition to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2026; nevertheless stresses that progress must be demonstrated through durable implementation rather than formal commitments; insists that any future EU enlargement must ensure that the interests of EU citizens remain the primary consideration;

Or. en

Amendment 27

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Welcomes Montenegro’s steady progress on EU-related reforms, underpinned by broad political engagement and ambition to complete negotiations by the end of 2026; welcomes the provisional closure of 6 more negotiating chapters in 2025 and 1 in 2026, bringing the total to 13; reiterates its full support for the country’s future in the EU, once all the necessary reforms have been fully implemented;

Or. fi

Amendment 28

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Welcomes Montenegro’s steady progress on EU-related reforms, underpinned by broad political engagement and ambition to complete negotiations by the end of 2026; welcomes the provisional closure of 6 more negotiating chapters in 2025 and 1 in 2026, bringing the total to 13; reiterates its full support for the country’s future in the EU as an equal member who enjoys all the benefits and responsibilities of EU membership;

Or. en

Amendment 29

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Welcomes Montenegro’s steady progress on EU-related reforms, underpinned by broad political engagement and ambition to complete negotiations by the end of 2026; welcomes the provisional closure of 6 more negotiating chapters in 2025 and 1 in 2026, bringing the total to 13; stresses, however, that the pace of chapter closure must be accompanied by lasting and measurable results, particularly in the area of the rule of law; reiterates its full support for the country’s future in the EU;

Or. hr

Amendment 30

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Welcomes Montenegro’s steady progress on EU-related reforms, underpinned by broad political engagement and ambition to complete negotiations by the end of 2026; welcomes the provisional closure of 6 more negotiating chapters in 2025 and 1 in 2026, bringing the total to 13; reiterates its full support for the country’s future in the EU; welcomes the statement by the President of Montenegro in which he stated that Montenegro aims to become the 28th Member State by 2028;

Or. en

Amendment 31

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 a. Underlines, that a unanimous decision on the actual accession of Montenegro by all Member States shall remain a key element in the enlargement procedure according to Article 49 of TFEU;

Or. en

Amendment 32

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1 a. Reaffirms that Montenegro remains the frontrunner in the EU accession process and stresses that the pace and sequencing of enlargement must continue to be determined by the principle of individual merit; underlines that progress towards membership should be assessed strictly on objective fulfilment of established benchmarks; calls for sustained reform efforts to be met with an equally credible, predictable and timely EU perspective; emphasises that the integrity of the enlargement policy rests on consistency, fairness and equal treatment, reflecting each candidate’s demonstrated level of preparedness;

Or. en

Amendment 33

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Encourages all political actors to stay focused and maintain the momentum towards successfully concluding the accession negotiations; underlines the need for political stability and constructive cross-party cooperation in this regard; recalls that genuine progress depends on the effective implementation of the reforms that have been adopted and on enduring results in the area of the rule of law; encourages Montenegro to further advance its implementation of the closing benchmarks, particularly for Chapters 23 and 24;

2. Encourages all political actors to stay focused and maintain the momentum towards successfully concluding the accession negotiations; underlines the need for political stability and constructive cross-party cooperation in this regard; stresses that genuine progress depends on the effective implementation of the reforms that have been adopted and on enduring, measurable results in the area of the rule of law, including final judgments in high-level corruption and organised crime cases; encourages Montenegro to further advance its implementation of the closing benchmarks, particularly for Chapters 23 and 24;

Or. hr

Amendment 34

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Encourages all political actors to stay focused on successfully concluding the accession negotiations and to step up their efforts to achieve the necessary reforms; underlines the need for political stability and constructive cross-party cooperation in this regard; recalls that genuine progress depends on the effective implementation of the reforms that have been adopted and on enduring results in the area of the rule of law; encourages Montenegro to further advance its implementation of the closing benchmarks, particularly for Chapters 23 and 24;

Or. fi

Amendment 35

Stanislav Stoyanov

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Expresses serious concern about the quality of the reforms and the insufficiently thorough analysis of the legislation required to transpose the EU acquis; stresses that accession negotiations must be based on tangible progress, measured by concrete implementation and verifiable results, rather than on declaratory or misleading claims of progress;

Or. en

Amendment 36

Stanislav Stoyanov

on behalf of the ESN Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 b. Regrets that the ambition to finalise accession negotiations by the end of 2026 may not allow sufficient time for Montenegrin society to fully understand, absorb and debate the required reforms; warns that such an accelerated timeline may create political, institutional and social risks and may compromise the credibility and legitimacy of both Montenegro’s accession and the EU enlargement process itself;

Or. en

Amendment 37

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Calls on all state authorities to act in a spirit of institutional responsibility, ensuring that political differences do not delay the adoption and implementation of EU-related reforms; stresses that safeguarding the strategic objective of EU membership must remain a shared national priority above partisan considerations;

Or. en

Amendment 38

Stanislav Stoyanov

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 c. Encourages the opposition in the Montenegrin Parliament to play a more active role in the accession process, in particular in relation to legislative scrutiny and oversight of financial management of EU pre-accession assistance;

Or. en

Amendment 39

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Urges the Montenegrin Parliament and Government to prevent identity politics from diverting attention from the EU agenda or straining relations with its neighbours, ensuring Montenegro remains firmly on the EU path, while emphasizing that any discussions on identity politics must be handled with the utmost sensitivity to avoid further polarization and should aim for broad societal consensus; expresses against this background its serious concerns over controversial proposals on citizenship and language;

Or. en

Amendment 40

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 b. Encourages Montenegro, as the most advanced accession country, to act as a stabilising anchor in the region and to demonstrate through leadership that sovereignty, civic identity and European integration are mutually reinforcing;

Or. en

Amendment 41

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2 a. Welcomes the broad and consistent public support among Montenegrin citizens for the country’s European path, with 69 % of citizens expressing confidence in Montenegro’s future within the European Union; underlines that this public trust further reinforces the responsibility of state institutions and political actors to act responsibly, consistently and with a clear focus on delivering tangible and lasting reform results in order to achieve the EU accession process;

Or. en

Amendment 42

Christophe Gomart

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2a. Considers that the EU should develop a deep strategic partnership with Montenegro, including economic cooperation, participation in certain European programmes, cooperation on security and the fight against organised crime, and gradual integration into certain European markets, without that necessarily implying full EU membership;

Or. fr

Amendment 43

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 44

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes Montenegro’s strong support for Ukraine, including in votes on UN General Assembly resolutions; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

Or. fi

Amendment 45

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures, notably those concerning Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as its principled stance in the United Nations and participation in EU crisis management missions and operations; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

Or. en

Amendment 46

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue; welcomes the decision of the Montenegrin Parliament to send members of its armed forces to participate in the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) in support of Ukraine, signaling a clear and unwavering alignment with EU and NATO security priorities; recalls that Montenegro is a key EU ally in the region as it contributes to regional security through its participation in the KFOR mission in Kosovo, and the Italian-led battlegroup in Bulgaria; welcomes the decision of the Montenegrin government to meet the 2% pledge for defence spending;

Or. en

Amendment 47

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue, including structured exchanges on security and defence cooperation, resilience to emerging threats and cooperation on support for Ukraine; commends the Montenegrin Parliament’s decision to approve the participation in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine;

Or. en

Amendment 48

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue; reaffirms that Montenegro’s consistent alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including restrictive measures against Russia, is a key indicator of its strategic orientation and must remain unwavering;

Or. en

Amendment 49

Costas Mavrides

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Welcomes Montenegro’s steadfast full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures; welcomes the EU-Montenegro Security and Defence Dialogue;

Or. en

Amendment 50

Petras Auštrevičius

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Notes Montenegro’s full alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including all EU restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus related to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

Or. en

Amendment 51

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3a. Takes a positive view of Montenegro’s NATO membership; notes that Montenegro’s defence spending amounts to around 2 % of its GDP and that the country is aiming to increase it to 3 %; encourages Montenegro to continue making significant investments in its defence spending;

Or. fi

Amendment 52

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Welcomes Montenegro's participation in EU common security and defence policy missions and operations, as well as in NATO and other international multilateral missions;

Or. en

Amendment 53

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Encourages Montenegro to strengthen its institutional capacity to identify and resist coordinated influence operations that seek to reorient its foreign and security policy choices;

Or. en

Amendment 54

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 b. Underlines that unwavering commitment to Montenegro’s independent statehood and strategic European orientation remains a key political criterion alongside technical reform benchmarks;

Or. en

Amendment 55

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Urges the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits and responsibilities that enlargement and EU membership entail; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership;

Or. en

Amendment 56

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilising activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro; calls for stronger measures to counter these and to enhance societal resilience, however calls attention to the fact that this must not constitute justification for mechanisms of generalised surveillance of citizens; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership; highlights that, upon request, the Union should be ready to support candidate countries in addressing disinformation related to electoral processes through information exchange and knowledge sharing;

Or. en

Amendment 57

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilising activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns, including anti-rights and gender disinformation, by third-country actors in Montenegro; calls for stronger measures to counter these and to enhance societal resilience; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership;

Or. en

Amendment 58

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilising activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro; notes in particular the malign influence of China, Russia and Serbia; calls for stronger measures to counter these and to enhance societal resilience and cohesion; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership, which has no equivalent in terms of value and significance; notes with concern the political power held by religious organisations in the country, in particular those organisations, which are headquartered in other countries;

Or. en

Amendment 59

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilising activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro, especially Russia and China; demands stronger measures to counter these and to enhance societal resilience; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership;

Or. fi

Amendment 60

Andrey Kovatchev, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign and persistent foreign interference, destabilizing activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro aimed at undermining Montenegro’s democratic institutions, societal cohesion and strategic orientation towards the EU; underlines that such interference represents a direct challenge to the rule of law, democratic governance and national sovereignty; calls on the Montenegrin authorities to further strengthen institutional resilience, strategic communication and counter-disinformation capacities, in close cooperation with the Union; calls for stronger measures to counter these and to enhance societal resilience; calls, furthermore, for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership;

Or. en

Amendment 61

Costas Mavrides

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilising activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro, which are intensifying as the country approaches the EU; calls for the development of tailored EU support and stronger measures to counter these and to enhance societal resilience; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership;

Or. en

Amendment 62

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilising activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro, that are distorting European role and undermining Montenegro's progress on its European path; calls for stronger measures to counter these campaigns and to enhance societal resilience; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership;

Or. en

Amendment 63

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilising activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro; calls for stronger institutional measures to counter these and to enhance societal resilience, including enhancing cybersecurity, media literacy and strategic communication; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership;

Or. hr

Amendment 64

Nathalie Loiseau

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Remains gravely concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilising activities, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by third-country actors in Montenegro; calls for stronger measures to counter these and to enhance societal resilience; calls for the EU and Montenegro to continue pursuing targeted strategic communication on the benefits of enlargement and EU membership; calls on the Commission to increase its support to Montenegro in countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), as well as other forms of hybrid threats targeting democratic institutions; encourages the Commission to ensure that Montenegro can fully benefit from the European Democracy Shield;

Or. en

Amendment 65

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 66

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Expresses particular concern about coordinated external influence efforts originating from the region that seek to challenge Montenegro’s sovereign policy choices, including its NATO membership and EU accession path; calls for enhanced cooperation between Montenegro, the EU and NATO in countering hybrid threats, foreign information manipulation and covert political financing;

Or. en

Amendment 67

Cristian Terheş

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Notes with concern reports by United States intelligence services indicating that the Russian Federation has provided covert financial support to political actors representing Serbian interests in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 1a; highlights that such activities aim to exploit ethnic tensions and promote narratives portraying Russia as a protector of Serbian communities, with the objective of undermining democratic institutions and slowing the Euro-Atlantic integration of countries in the Western Balkans;

_________________

1a https://reunir-horizon.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/REUNIR-D5.1-POLITICAL-THREAT-ASSESSMENT-IN-EASTERN-NEIGHBOURHOOD-AND-WESTERN-BALKAN-COUNTRIES-pdf.pdf p 40

Or. en

Amendment 68

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4 a. Notes with concern that only 39 % of citizens in Montenegro feel well or very well informed about the European Union, as reflected in the latest Special Eurobarometer survey; calls on the European Commission to significantly strengthen and better tailor its communication on the benefits of enlargement by adopting a more proactive and locally adapted approach, in close cooperation with national institutions and civil society, with a view to reinforcing societal resilience and strengthening public ownership of the accession process;

Or. en

Amendment 69

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Welcomes the holding of the Citizens’ Forum on ‘Citizens at the Heart of the Enlargement of the European Union’ held on 20–21 September 2025 in Podgorica;

Or. en

Amendment 70

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Welcomes the designation of the towns of Nikšić as European Capital of Culture 2030 and Podgorica as European Youth Capital 2028, highlighting their role in fostering youth engagement, innovation, cultural exchange and closer ties between Montenegro and the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 71

Cristian Terheş

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Acknowledges the significant role of religious communities, including the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, in fostering reconciliation, dialogue and social cohesion in the Western Balkans; underlines that interfaith and ecumenical cooperation can contribute to overcoming historical divisions and supporting the region’s path towards stability, democratic development and European integration;

Or. en

Amendment 72

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Highlights the importance of the Montenegrin Parliament in the accession process and encourages constructive dialogue across the political spectrum; stresses that close cooperation between the Government and Parliament of Montenegro is crucial for the timely and effective implementation of reforms; commends the opposition for its unwavering support for EU-related reforms; recalls that all legislation must be thoroughly discussed, and properly considered and voted by the Parliament; recalls that that accelerated adoption of legislation reducing the Parliament's role in the process is contrary to the established EU democratic norms;

Or. en

Amendment 73

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Highlights the importance of the Montenegrin Parliament in the accession process and encourages constructive dialogue and cooperation across the political spectrum with a view to adopting high-quality legislation that solves or meaningfully improves structural problems and advances Montenegro on its accession path; stresses that close cooperation between the Government and Parliament of Montenegro is crucial for the timely and effective implementation of reforms; underlines that the acceleration of the legislative process should not limit meaningful parliamentary debate or the role of the opposition, and calls for an appropriate balance between the pace of reforms and the quality of legislative scrutiny;

Or. en

Amendment 74

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Highlights the importance of the Montenegrin Parliament in the accession process and stresses its key role in ensuring democratic accountability, parliamentary oversight and the transparency of the legislative process; encourages constructive dialogue across the political spectrum; stresses that close cooperation between the Government and Parliament of Montenegro is crucial for the timely and effective implementation of reforms;

Or. hr

Amendment 75

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Highlights how important the Montenegrin Parliament is for the accession process and its democratic legitimacy and encourages constructive dialogue across the political spectrum; stresses that close cooperation between the Government and Parliament of Montenegro is crucial for the timely and effective implementation of reforms;

Or. fi

Amendment 76

Andrey Kovatchev, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Takes note of ongoing discussions concerning possible amendments to the legal framework on the acquisition of dual citizenship in Montenegro; underlines that any such changes must be pursued in full respect of the Constitution and the rule of law, based on a broad political and societal consensus, and in a manner that ensures legal certainty; urges Montenegro to ensure that any legislation fully aligns with the EU acquis and international standards, and upholds fundamental rights;

Or. en

Amendment 77

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Welcomes the amendments made to Montenegro’s electoral law, particularly those concerning the oversight of campaign finance and media, electoral integrity and a single local election day; urges Montenegro to fully align with EU standards and to fully implement all recommendations issued by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Group of States against Corruption, particularly on political party expenditure and on preventing the abuse of state resources;

Or. fi

Amendment 78

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Welcomes the amendments made to Montenegro’s electoral law, particularly those concerning the oversight of campaign finance and media, electoral integrity, measures advancing women’s leadership and participation on electoral lists and a single local election day; urges Montenegro to fully align with EU standards and to fully implement all recommendations issued by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Group of States against Corruption, particularly on political party expenditure and on preventing the abuse of state resources;

Or. en

Amendment 79

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Welcomes the amendments made to Montenegro’s electoral law, particularly those concerning the oversight of campaign finance and media, electoral integrity, gender quotas on electoral lists and a single local election day; urges Montenegro to fully align with EU standards and to fully implement all recommendations issued by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Group of States against Corruption through a transparent and inclusive consultation process with all relevant stakeholders, addressing all open recommendations, particularly on political party expenditure, including on reporting on the expenditure of funds dedicated to the women’s organisations in political parties, preventing the abuse of state resources, cleaning the voter register and addressing residence registration;

Or. en

Amendment 80

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Welcomes the amendments made to Montenegro’s electoral law, particularly those concerning the oversight of campaign finance and media, electoral integrity, gender quotas on electoral lists and a single local election day; urges Montenegro to fully align with EU standards and to fully implement all recommendations issued by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Group of States against Corruption, particularly on the transparency of financing political parties, digital political advertising, political party expenditure and on preventing the abuse of state resources;

Or. hr

Amendment 81

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Welcomes the amendments made to Montenegro’s electoral law, particularly those concerning the oversight of campaign finance and media, electoral integrity, gender quotas on electoral lists and a single local election day; urges Montenegro to fully align with EU standards and to fully implement all recommendations issued by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Group of States against Corruption, particularly on political party expenditure and on preventing the abuse of state resources; stresses the need for inclusive consultations with all stakeholders;

Or. en

Amendment 82

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Notes that recent electoral reforms only partially addressed outstanding international recommendations and were not substantively consulted with relevant stakeholders; calls on Montenegro, in the run-up to elections, to systematically protect the electoral information environment by enforcing transparency of campaign communication financing and online political advertising, including disclosure of sponsors and targeting criteria, ensuring transparent media ownership and preventing hidden control of outlets through proxies; and establishing rapid cooperation channels between the election administration, media regulator and competent authorities to detect and respond to coordinated disinformation and illicit interference, while fully respecting freedom of expression;

Or. en

Amendment 83

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Expresses concern about the political instrumentalisation of religious institutions by external actors; stresses that religious organisations must operate transparently and independently from foreign political direction, in full respect of Montenegro’s constitutional and secular framework;

Or. en

Amendment 84

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Calls for judicial appointments to be made more quickly, but not to the detriment to the quality of the decisions made, using merit-based and transparent procedures, including appointments to the Constitutional Court and the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils;

Or. en

Amendment 85

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Notes that Montenegro has been short of judges for many years, and that this has resulted in significant delays in the time it takes to hear cases; calls for judicial appointments to be made more quickly, using merit-based and transparent procedures, including appointments to the Constitutional Court and the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils;

Or. fi

Amendment 86

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Calls for judicial appointments to be made more quickly, using merit-based and transparent procedures, including appointments to the Constitutional Court and the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, fully in line with the closing benchmark requirements; is seriously concerned that in February Parliament once again failed to hold a vote on the Constitutional Court judge proposed by the President, thus further delaying the full functioning of one of the most important institutions for safeguarding the rule of law and EU integration;

Or. en

Amendment 87

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Calls for judicial appointments to be made more quickly, using merit-based and transparent procedures, including appointments to the Constitutional Court and the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils by means of procedures that are strictly based on merit, expertise and integrity and that are free from political influence;

Or. hr

Amendment 88

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8 a. Stresses the crucial role of a fully functioning Constitutional Court for the stability of the legal order and the electoral framework; urges the timely appointment of qualified judges through cross-party consensus to avoid institutional paralysis;

Or. en

Amendment 89

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Urges Montenegro to further align its legal framework with International Law standards, the EU acquis and European standards on judicial independence, institutional accountability, impartiality, integrity and professionalism, and to implement outstanding recommendations; calls for greater efficiency in the justice system, including the reduction of backlogs, particularly on corruption and organised crime cases;

Or. en

Amendment 90

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Urges Montenegro to further align its legal framework with the EU acquis and European standards on judicial independence, accountability, impartiality, integrity and professionalism, and to implement all outstanding recommendations; calls for greater efficiency in the justice system, including the reduction of backlogs, particularly on corruption and organised crime cases; reminds that closing benchmarks require demonstrated results in practice, including improved working conditions, sufficient staffing and effective case management, as persistent structural shortcomings continue to affect judicial efficiency;

Or. en

Amendment 91

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Urges Montenegro to further align its legal framework with the EU acquis and European standards on judicial independence, accountability, impartiality, integrity and professionalism, and to implement outstanding recommendations; calls for greater efficiency in the justice system, including the reduction of backlogs, particularly on corruption and organised crime cases; notes that the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption continues to operate with leadership gaps, limited staff and insufficient financial independence, which restrict its overall impact, and calls for measures to ensure its full operational, financial and functional independence in line with European standards;

Or. en

Amendment 92

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. fi

Amendment 93

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 94

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Notes that civil society legal experts have raised serious concerns about the substance of the government’s draft amendments concerning the Prosecutorial Council, arguing that they do not meaningfully strengthen its independence and may even make it more difficult to ensure genuinely independent membership; notes that the vote on the amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs and the Law on the National Security Agency (ANB) has been postponed due to strong criticism from the opposition and civil society legal experts regarding both their substance and the transparency of the procedure; urges the ruling coalition to respect transparent procedures and to ensure genuine cooperation and consultation, notably on all laws pertaining to the EU integration process, with all relevant stakeholders, including the opposition, legal experts, and the European Commission;

Or. en

Amendment 95

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 b. Regrets the significant delay of the adoption of the Law on Salaries and Other Rights of Judges and State Prosecutors and urges for its adoption to ensure adequate, stable, and predictable salaries and working conditions of judges and prosecutors, which are essential safeguards of their independence and the proper functioning of the justice system;

Or. en

Amendment 96

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 c. Strongly condemns the frequent political and public pressure on judges and prosecutors and calls on the competent institutions to react promptly and effectively to protect their independence and integrity;

Or. en

Amendment 97

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Urges Montenegro to step up the proactive investigation and prosecution of high-level corruption and to strengthen the capacity and performance of judicial and anti-corruption bodies; calls for further alignment with the EU acquis and EU standards in the fight against corruption and urges Montenegro to address the outstanding recommendations in this area;

10. Finds it unacceptable that Montenegro has not significantly intensified the proactive investigation and prosecution of high-level corruption and has not yet adequately strengthened the capacity and effectiveness of its judicial and anti-corruption institutions; therefore questions the country’s preparedness and suitability to advance further in the EU accession process;

Or. en

Amendment 98

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. fi

Amendment 99

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Calls for further improvement of the track record on investigations and prosecutions in high-level corruption cases; urges Montenegro to step up the proactive investigation and prosecution of high-level corruption and to strengthen the capacity and performance of judicial and anti-corruption bodies; calls for further alignment with the EU acquis and EU standards in the fight against corruption and urges Montenegro to address the outstanding recommendations in this area;

Or. en

Amendment 100

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Urges Montenegro to step up the proactive investigation and prosecution of high-level corruption and to strengthen the capacity and performance of judicial and anti-corruption bodies with a view to establishing a solid track-record of final convictions and confiscation of assets; calls for further alignment with the EU acquis and EU standards in the fight against corruption and urges Montenegro to address all outstanding recommendations in this area;

Or. en

Amendment 101

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Calls for comprehensive integrity policies to safeguard law-enforcement agencies and the judiciary from corruption and organised crime; calls for the establishment of disciplinary and ethical accountability mechanisms to be strengthened and made more efficient, particularly in cases involving the failure to declare assets, in order to ensure meaningful and effective accountability in practice; urges Montenegro to increase the efficiency of prosecutions and judicial proceedings for serious and organised crime, particularly money laundering cases with a view to establishing a solid track-record of final convictions and confiscation of assets; notes that in the area of anti-money laundering Montenegro has made a significant progress in improving its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework, as well as on implementing EU sanctions;

Or. en

Amendment 102

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Calls for comprehensive integrity policies to safeguard law-enforcement agencies and the judiciary from corruption and organised crime; urges Montenegro to increase the efficiency of prosecutions and judicial proceedings for serious and organised crime, particularly money laundering cases; welcomes progress in areas such as lobbying regulation, whistleblower protection and public procurement transparency, which demonstrate that targeted and properly implemented reforms can deliver tangible results;

Or. en

Amendment 103

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Calls for comprehensive integrity policies to safeguard law-enforcement agencies and the judiciary from corruption and organised crime; urges Montenegro to increase the efficiency of prosecutions and judicial proceedings for serious and organised crime, particularly money laundering cases, and to ensure that investigations consistently lead to indictments and final judgments;

Or. fi

Amendment 104

Davor Ivo Stier

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Urges Montenegro to take concrete steps to ensure fair restitution proceedings within a reasonable time; recalls that restitution process remains slow and that a significant number of private and religious property claims remain unresolved or not implemented, including registering the ownership rights in the cadastre; recalls that this is part of the closing benchmarks for chapter 23;

Or. en

Amendment 105

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Welcomes the ongoing cooperation of Montenegro with Frontex, Europol, Eurojust and CEPOL and notes the importance of this cooperation in tackling cross-border crime, including trafficking of weapons, drugs and human beings and combat terrorism and extremism; emphasizes the need to reinforce cooperation in the area of drugs;

Or. en

Amendment 106

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12. Calls on Montenegro to fully align its visa policy with that of the EU, especially as regards countries posing security risks; recalls that this is a closing benchmark requirement under Chapter 24;

12. Calls on Montenegro to fully align its visa policy with that of the EU; recalls that this is a closing benchmark requirement under Chapter 24;

Or. en

Amendment 107

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12. Repeats its calls on Montenegro to fully align its visa policy with that of the EU, especially as regards countries posing security risks; notes Montenegro’s Government decision to remove Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Vanuatu from its visa-free list in 2025: recalls that this is a closing benchmark requirement under Chapter 24;

Or. en

Amendment 108

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12. Insists that Montenegro fully align its visa policy with that of the EU, especially as regards countries posing security risks; recalls that this is a closing benchmark requirement under Chapter 24;

Or. fi

Amendment 109

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Underlines the importance of a transparent and accountable public administration, stronger administrative capacity, and a professional, merit-based civil service;

13. Underlines the importance of a transparent and accountable public administration, stronger administrative capacity, and a professional, merit-based civil service; expresses, in this context, its categorical opposition to gender quotas, which do not promote equality but undermine the principle of recruitment based on merit;

Or. fi

Amendment 110

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Underlines the importance of a transparent and accountable public administration, stronger administrative capacity, and a professional, merit-based civil service;

13. Underlines the importance of a transparent and accountable public administration, stronger administrative capacity, and a professional, merit-based civil service; notes with concern that continuing large-scale hiring in public administration, without transparent criteria and clear needs assessments, undermine the principles of merit-based recruitment and professionalisation;

Or. en

Amendment 111

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Underlines the importance of a transparent and accountable public administration, stronger administrative capacity, and a professional, merit-based civil service;

13. Underlines the importance of a transparent and accountable public administration, stronger administrative capacity, and a professional, merit-based civil service; calls for further depoliticisation of senior civil service appointments and the introduction of clear performance-based evaluation mechanisms;

Or. en

Amendment 112

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Underlines the importance of a transparent and accountable public administration, stronger administrative capacity, and a professional, merit-based civil service;

13. Underlines the importance of a transparent and accountable public administration, stronger administrative capacity, and a professional civil service that is based on merit, depoliticisation and the continuity of expertise;

Or. hr

Amendment 113

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Underlines that media and digital literacy are essential for strengthening democratic resilience and countering disinformation in the context of EU accession; encourages Montenegrin authorities to systematically integrate media literacy across all levels of education, ensure adequate teacher training and modern teaching resources, and deepen cooperation with EU institutions, programmes and Member States to progressively align with EU standards and best practices in digital and civic education;

Or. en

Amendment 114

Andrey Kovatchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Calls for strengthened vetting and integrity mechanisms within Montenegro’s security and intelligence services in order to prevent foreign infiltration and malign external influence; encourages closer operational cooperation with EU and NATO partners in safeguarding national security institutions;

Or. en

Amendment 115

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13a. Underlines the importance of full alignment with European and international standards on tax good governance, including transparency and the exchange of tax information, and stresses that credible progress in that area is crucial for further progress under Chapter 16;

Or. hr

Amendment 116

Stanislav Stoyanov

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Recalls that corruption and backsliding in the rule of law undermine sound financial management and accountability; stresses that the use of EU pre-accession funds must ensure the best value for taxpayers’ money;

Or. en

Amendment 117

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Welcomes Montenegro's inclusion in the Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report;

Or. en

Amendment 118

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13a. Notes that the legal and institutional framework for the protection of minorities in Montenegro is largely in place; emphasises, however, that the enforcement of legislation still needs to be stepped up;

Or. fi

Amendment 119

Geadis Geadi

on behalf of the ECR Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Regrets the fact that vulnerable groups, including Roma and Egyptians, persons with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ persons, still experience discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in Montenegro; reiterates its call on the Montenegrin Parliament to adopt a new anti-discrimination law aligned with the EU acquis and European standards;

14. Regrets the fact that vulnerable groups, including minorities, still experience discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in Montenegro; reiterates its call on the Montenegrin Parliament to adopt a new anti-discrimination law aligned with the EU acquis and European standards;

Or. el

Amendment 120

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Regrets the fact that vulnerable groups, including Roma and Egyptians, persons with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ persons, still experience discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in Montenegro; reiterates the importance of ensuring that all current and future anti-discrimination laws are fully in line with Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union and Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

Or. en

Amendment 121

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 122

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 123

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Regrets the fact that all national minorities, vulnerable groups, including Roma and Egyptians, persons with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ persons, still experience discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in Montenegro; calls for enhanced respect for all languages, traditions and cultural heritage of local communities and national minorities reiterates its call on the Montenegrin Parliament to adopt a new anti-discrimination law aligned with the EU acquis and European standards;

Or. en

Amendment 124

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Regrets the fact that vulnerable groups, including Roma and Egyptians, persons with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ persons, still experience discrimination, hate speech, notably online, and hate crimes in Montenegro; reiterates its call on the Montenegrin Parliament to adopt a new anti-discrimination law aligned with the EU acquis and European standards; calls on the Montenegrin authorities to continue to improve the climate of societal inclusion and tolerance;

Or. en

Amendment 125

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Regrets the fact that vulnerable groups, including Roma and Egyptians, persons with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ persons, still experience discrimination, speech inciting violence and hate crimes in Montenegro; reiterates its call on the Montenegrin Parliament to adopt a new anti-discrimination law aligned with the EU acquis and European standards;

Or. fi

Amendment 126

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14 a. Calls on Montenegro to continue the work to ensure all provisions required to implement the registered partnership law are adopted; regrets the persistent delays of the Draft Law on Legal Recognition of Gender Identity based on self-determination; calls on the Parliament to adopt it, as a matter of priority, as committed to in the Program for the Accession of Montenegro to the European Union for the period 2026-2027, in order to close chapter 23 of the negotiations;

Or. en

Amendment 127

Andrey Kovatchev, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14 a. Stresses that resolving outstanding property rights issues, including restitution, is essential for meeting Montenegro’s obligations under Chapter 23 on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and remains a key benchmark for the closure of negotiations in the field of fundamental rights;

Or. en

Amendment 128

Stanislav Stoyanov

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Acknowledges the multi-ethnic character of Montenegrin society; notes the need for sensitive and inclusive handling of identity-related discussions with a view to preventing polarisation and building broad consensus on issues of common interest, such as Montenegro’s European path; emphasises that the Cyrillic script should not be discriminated against in education;

Or. en

Amendment 129

Davor Ivo Stier, Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Acknowledges the multi-ethnic character of Montenegrin society; notes the need for sensitive and inclusive handling of identity-related discussions with a view to preventing polarisation and building broad consensus on issues of crucial importance for Montenegro’s identity, independence, sovereignty and European path; reiterates its concern about attempts to amend the law on Montenegrin citizenship in the Parliament, which could have serious and long-term implications for the country’s decision-making process and identity; encourages the authorities to continue consulting and coordinating with the EU on any possible changes in legislation;

Or. en

Amendment 130

Andrey Kovatchev, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15 a. Calls for strengthening the implementation of equal treatment for ethnic communities, ensuring that all ethnic, religious, and social groups are guaranteed equal rights and opportunities, and can fully and effectively participate in social, political, and economic life; recognizes that safeguarding minority rights is fundamental to fostering social cohesion, democratic governance, and upholding European values; urges Montenegro to adopt and enforce comprehensive legislation and policies that prevent discrimination and promote inclusivity across all sectors of society;

Or. en

Amendment 131

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15a. Highlights the importance of preserving cultural identity and safeguarding the rights of autochthonous minority communities and their active participation in public life, as an integral part of European values and standards;

Or. hr

Amendment 132

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15 a. Calls on Montenegro to intensify efforts for non-discriminatory use of minority languages in education, in dedicated media space in the state and in local outlets; stresses the importance of equal representation of national minorities in media, judiciary, law enforcement and public institutions; emphasises the need to protect all of the national minorities' political rights;

Or. en

Amendment 133

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15 b. Calls for the respect of the multi-ethnic identity of the Bay of Kotor; stresses that the European perspective of Montenegro is closely intertwined with protection of minorities and their cultural heritage; calls on the Montenegrin authorities to acknowledge the tradition and cultural heritage of the Croatian community in the Bay of Kotor;

Or. en

Amendment 134

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15 a. Urges national and local authorities to protect the multiethnic identity of the Bay of Kotor, notably by acknowledging the cultural heritage of the autochthonous Croatian community;

Or. en

Amendment 135

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15 a. Calls on the Montenegrin authorities to address the difficult living conditions of Roma in Montenegro and the discrimination they face in society; calls for more measures to promote intercultural understanding at schools; notes that there is severe underrepresentation of Roma in state institutions and public sector employment;

Or. en

Amendment 136

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15 c. Condemns foreign and domestic disinformation campaigns spreading ethno-nationalist narratives that negatively impact democratic processes in the country thus endangering its European perspective;

Or. en

Amendment 137

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16. Strongly condemns all hate speech and hate crimes; welcomes the increase in the number of prosecutions for racism and hate speech; encourages Montenegro to step up its institutional response to hate speech and fully align with the EU acquis;

16. Strongly condemns all hate speech and hate crimes, including inflammatory speech, historical revisionism, and the glorification of individuals responsible for war crimes, including the erection of monuments celebrating such figures from the Second World War, its significant increase and that hate speech has become a daily occurrence; welcomes the increase in the number of prosecutions for racism and hate speech, but expresses concern over insufficient action against speeches, public statements or symbolic acts that glorify war criminals or revise historical facts; encourages Montenegro to step up its institutional response to hate speech, ensure effective investigations and prosecutions, and fully align with the EU acquis on combating hate speech and promoting respect for democratic values

Or. en

Amendment 138

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16. Strongly condemns all speech inciting violence and all hate crimes; welcomes the increase in the number of prosecutions for racism and speech inciting violence; encourages Montenegro to step up its institutional response to speech inciting violence and fully align with the EU acquis;

Or. fi

Amendment 139

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16. Strongly condemns all hate speech, notably online, and hate crimes; welcomes the increase in the number of prosecutions for racism and hate speech; encourages Montenegro to step up its institutional response to hate speech and fully align with the EU acquis;

Or. en

Amendment 140

Cristian Terheş

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16 a. Expresses concern over the use of religious and cultural institutions by external actors as instruments of geopolitical influence in the Western Balkans; notes reports indicating that the Russian Federation has sought to leverage its ties with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) in Montenegro to advance its geopolitical interests, promote pan-Slavic narratives and undermine Euro-Atlantic integration; warns that such influence operations contributes to the spread of anti-NATO and anti-EU narratives, shape public opinion and interfere in domestic political processes, including through the instrumentalisation of religious authority to influence political identity and promote divisive narratives; calls on the EU to strengthen engagement through faith-based diplomacy and dialogue with religious communities, while increasing vigilance and support for democratic resilience, media pluralism and institutional transparency in Montenegro and the wider Western Balkans, in order to counter foreign interference, reinforce societal cohesion and safeguard democratic processes;

Or. en

Amendment 141

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16 a. Urges Montenegro to ensure the effective application of its fundamental rights frameworks, including access to justice and protection of vulnerable persons, and to implement all recommendations from international monitoring bodies;

Or. en

Amendment 142

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17. Stresses the need to address discrimination against women; regrets the widespread nature of gender-based violence and victim-blaming attitudes; urges Montenegro to adequately fund, resource, coordinate and enforce its gender equality framework;

Or. fi

Amendment 143

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17. Stresses the need to address discrimination against women; regrets the widespread nature of gender-based violence and victim-blaming attitudes, as well as gender-based hate speech, including online, particularly towards women in public and political life; urges Montenegro to adequately fund, resource, coordinate and enforce its gender equality framework and to ensure in particular sufficient funding for women CSOs, which provide specialized services for survivors of gender-based violence, notably free legal aid;

Or. en

Amendment 144

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17. Stresses the need to address discrimination against women, in particular those from minority groups; regrets the widespread nature of gender-based violence and victim-blaming attitudes; urges Montenegro to adequately fund, resource, coordinate and enforce its gender equality framework; calls for improved data collection on domestic and gender-based violence, incomes and salaries, health and social security;

Or. en

Amendment 145

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17. Stresses the need to address discrimination against women; regrets the widespread nature of gender-based violence and victim-blaming attitudes; calls for more vigilance and establishing support systems for victims of gender-based violence as well as domestic violence by the respective authorities; urges Montenegro to adequately fund, resource, coordinate and enforce its gender equality framework;

Or. en

Amendment 146

Petras Auštrevičius

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17 a. Expresses concern over child marriage disproportionately affecting girls from the Roma and Egyptian communities in Montenegro with 59 percent of Roma and Egyptian girls with little or no formal education getting married before the age of 18; calls for expansion of social protection measures and of parenting and outreach programmes to support the Roma and Egyptian families;

Or. en

Amendment 147

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17 a. Calls on the Montenegrin authorities to ensure increased political participation of women:

Or. en

Amendment 148

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18. Notes Montenegro’s zero-tolerance policy towards violence against journalists, but expresses concern over the use of informal summonses and investigative interviews against journalists, columnists and civil society actors for criticizing public officials; condemns such intimidations and all instances of verbal attacks on media and civil society representatives by public officials and political parties; recognises that women media workers and women human rights defenders are particularly exposed; calls for the swift and effective enforcement of the law, for effective judicial protection, prioritising conducting investigations and following up on unresolved cases, as well as deterrent sanctions and full implementation of Montenegro’s media and freedom of expression legislation in line with EU benchmarks;

Or. en

Amendment 149

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18. Notes Montenegro’s zero-tolerance policy towards violence against journalists and condemns instances of strong verbal attacks on media and civil society representatives by public officials and political parties; calls for the swift and effective enforcement of the law and for effective judicial protection, prioritising conducting investigations and following up on unresolved cases; notes that the Montenegrin legal system lacks a specific definition or expedited procedure to identify and dismiss SLAPPs, which are often disguised as defamation or as civil cases;

Or. en

Amendment 150

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18. Welcomes Montenegro’s zero-tolerance policy towards violence against journalists and condemns instances of strong verbal attacks on media and civil society representatives by public officials and political parties; points out, however, that for the sake of freedom of speech it must also be possible to criticise – even sharply – the media and civil society representatives; calls for the swift and effective enforcement of the law and for effective judicial protection, prioritising conducting investigations and following up on unresolved cases;

Or. fi

Amendment 151

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 a. Regrets the continuing impunity in the case of the murder of Duško Jovanović, prominent journalist and editor in chief of DAN; reiterates its call to review the investigation and to engage with foreign experts to secure a full and effective investigation of the case;

Or. en

Amendment 152

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Underlines the key role of free and pluralistic media and recalls that ensuring the independence of the public broadcaster and the media regulatory authority remains a Chapter 23 benchmark; stresses that Montenegro must implement the legal framework consistently, align with the European Media Freedom Act, and ensure that all media, including unregistered online portals spreading hate speech and disinformation, act within the legal framework; expresses concern over continued political influence at the public broadcaster, including the appointment of the Director-General Boris Raonić by the RTCG Council despite non-fulfilment of statutory criteria; calls on the authorities to respect judicial proceedings, restore legality, and guarantee the broadcaster’s institutional and editorial independence; welcomes the Agency’s proactive and vigilant approach, including consistent monitoring and enforcement actions in the media sphere;

Or. en

Amendment 153

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Underlines the key role of free and pluralistic media as pillars of the rule of law and in nurturing an informed citizenry and fostering democratic processes; welcomes the recent appointment of members to the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services and stresses that the Agency must be able to operate independently, free from political influence;

Or. en

Amendment 154

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Underlines the key role of free and pluralistic media as a cornerstone of democratic society; welcomes the recent appointment of members to the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services and stresses that the Agency must be able to operate independently, free from political influence;

Or. fi

Amendment 155

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Underlines the key role of free and pluralistic media; welcomes the recent appointment of members to the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services and stresses that the Agency must be able to operate independently, free from political influence; calls on Montenegro to align its media legislation with the European Media Freedom Act and to increase resilience to foreign influence and disinformation;

Or. en

Amendment 156

Costas Mavrides

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Underlines the key role of free and pluralistic media; welcomes the recent appointment of members to the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services and stresses that the Agency must be able to operate independently, free from political influence; highlights the importance of ensuring full media ownership and funding transparency, including for online outlets;

Or. en

Amendment 157

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 a. Calls for full transparency of media ownership structures and financing sources; stresses the need to counter disinformation through independent regulatory authorities and media literacy programmes; calls for enhanced monitoring and disclosure requirements concerning foreign funding of political parties, NGOs, religious institutions and media outlets, in line with European best practices;

Or. en

Amendment 158

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 a. Calls for full transparency of media ownership structures and foreign funding sources, particularly where linked to political actors or foreign state interests, in order to prevent covert external influence on Montenegro’s public discourse;

Or. en

Amendment 159

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Calls for the meaningful involvement of civil society in policymaking, including by resuming, after a long hiatus, the work the Council for Cooperation between the Government and Non-governmental Organisations;

20. Welcomes Montenegro’s vibrant and constructive civil society which plays a crucial and positive role in the reform process; calls for the meaningful involvement of civil society in policymaking, and urges the authorities to ensure that EU accession related law making activity does not bypass public consultation requirements and established standards of participatory governance, including by resuming, after a long hiatus, the work the Council for Cooperation between the Government and Non-governmental Organisations with a view to building collaborative relationships and genuinely implicating civil society in a transparent legislative process from an early stage onwards; encourages the government to significantly enhance its cooperation with civil society, in particular also with women’s rights organisations on decision-making; underlines that civil society is vital in fostering democracy and pluralism and promoting good governance and social progress;

Or. en

Amendment 160

Costas Mavrides

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Calls for the meaningful involvement of civil society in policymaking, including by ensuring more systematic engagement and timely access to relevant information; calls for resuming, after a long hiatus, the work the Council for Cooperation between the Government and Non-governmental Organisations;

Or. en

Amendment 161

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 a. Notes with concern that the polarising rhetoric spread by certain civil society actors risks deepening societal divisions in matters related to religious communities in Montenegro; recalls that approximately 71 % of Montenegro’s population identifies as Orthodox Christian and that the Serbian Orthodox Church gathers the largest number of believers in the country; considers it unlikely that a religious community representing a significant share of the population would pursue an anti-European or anti-accession agenda, particularly in light of the consistently high level of public support for EU membership, currently at around 69 %; stresses the importance of avoiding the politicisation of religious identity in the context of the accession process and calls for inclusive and responsible public discourse;

Or. en

Amendment 162

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 b. Emphasises that unresolved property disputes and legal uncertainty regarding ownership, including in relation to religious communities, risk undermining social cohesion and legal predictability; calls on Montenegro to ensure the full respect for property rights, transparent procedures and the consistent application of court decisions, in line with European standards and the principles of the rule of law;

Or. en

Amendment 163

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 a. Urges Montenegro to consistently implement all recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CPT) as its 2025 findings point again to a lack of systemic improvements, including deteriorating conditions in certain closed institutions; notes with concern the rising number of complaints of torture and coercion of statements, the backlog of cases and the limited use of key procedural safeguards such as audio-visual recording of interrogations; also regrets the inconsistent application of suspensions and disciplinary proceedings, as well as the continued practice of lenient sanctions in cases of police ill-treatment, and calls for prompt, effective and impartial investigations;

Or. en

Amendment 164

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 b. Calls on Montenegro to implement a de-institutionalisation strategy for persons with disabilities, as well as a strong child protection system grounded in community-based care, with the best interest of the child as the guiding principle including as regards children deprived of parental care or with disabilities;

Or. en

Amendment 165

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 c. Expresses deep concern over massive ongoing constructions in the Bay of Kotor UNESCO site; deplores the announced demolition of the Slovenska plaža hotel architectural masterpiece; regrets the loss of old olive trees in the coastal region due to real estate development; urges the Government of Montenegro to ensure appropriate access to Sveti Stefan in accordance to the Council of Europe Faro Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, as well as to ensure the finalizing the legal protection of Miločer park; welcomes positive developments in terms of heritage preservation such as formal protection of the cultural landscape site Valdanos bay with ancient olive trees and the Skočiđevojka military complex; urges competent bodies to examine and protect the potential archeological site Velja Trojica;

Or. en

Amendment 166

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 c. Welcomes Montenegro’s hosting of the EU–Western Balkans Summit on 5 June 2026 in Tivat, as a forefront runner in the EU enlargement process, which offers an important platform to strengthen regional cooperation, advance the accession agenda, enhance economic integration and address common challenges, thereby underscoring Montenegro’s active role in shaping the future of the Western Balkans within the European Union;

Or. en

Amendment 167

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Underlines the key role of good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation in the enlargement process; stresses that the constructive and timely resolution of outstanding bilateral issues, in accordance with international law and European values, is an integral part of the accession process; calls for dialogue in a spirit of mutual respect, with citizens’ interests as the priority;

Or. hr

Amendment 168

Andrey Kovatchev, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Underlines the key role of good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation in the enlargement process; reminds that good neighbourly relations are one of the key criteria for evaluating progress in the accession process of Montenegro, in accordance with the EU Negotiating Framework; calls for constructive solutions to outstanding bilateral issues, with citizens’ interests as the priority;

Or. en

Amendment 169

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Underlines the key role of good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation in the enlargement process; calls for constructive solutions to outstanding bilateral issues, with citizens’ interests as the priority; recalls that using unresolved bilateral and regional disputes to block candidate countries’ accession processes should be avoided; welcomes bilateral consultations between the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro;

Or. en

Amendment 170

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 a. Calls for the renaming of public facilities previously named after individuals associated with the Morinj camp, and advancing military succession matters, including the return of the Croatian training ship Jadran; underlines that progress in these areas is intrinsically linked to Chapter 23 on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and constitutes an important benchmark for the fulfilment of restitution-related closing criteria;

Or. en

Amendment 171

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21a. Welcomes efforts to strengthen the bilateral dialogue between the EU Member States and Montenegro as a constructive mechanism for resolving outstanding issues and building trust;

Or. hr

Amendment 172

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 a. Expresses concern over continued political narratives originating outside Montenegro that question its sovereignty, identity and Euro-Atlantic orientation; calls on all regional actors to respect Montenegro’s independence and refrain from interference in its domestic affairs;

Or. en

Amendment 173

Andrey Kovatchev, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 b. Expresses concern over destabilising actions and narratives originating from Serbia that seek to exert political, media and societal influence in Montenegro, including through coordinated disinformation campaigns and political pressure; stresses that such actions are incompatible with good neighbourly relations; calls on Serbia, as an EU candidate country, to fully respect Montenegro’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereign decision-making, and to refrain from political, media or religious actions that may contribute to internal polarisation or destabilisation;

Or. en

Amendment 174

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 a. Encourages Montenegro, as the most advanced candidate country, to continue playing a constructive and stabilising role in the Western Balkans and to act as a positive example for other enlargement countries;

Or. en

Amendment 175

Davor Ivo Stier

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Commends Montenegro for its consistent progress in the domestic handling of war crime cases; encourages it to continue taking a proactive approach to ensuring access to justice and reparations for victims; welcomes regional cooperation on these issues, including on missing persons;

22. Commends Montenegro for its progress in the domestic handling of war crime cases; underlines the need to continue to build a credible and sustained track record of effective investigations, prosecutions and trying of war crimes cases, including in high level cases in line with international law and standards; stresses in this regard the importance of access to archives; encourages it to continue taking a proactive approach to ensuring access to justice and reparations for victims, including ensuring adequate and fair compensations for all persons who were prisoners of war in camps in Montenegro during the 1990s, and clarify the fate of missing persons; welcomes regional cooperation on these issues, stresses that addressing them and safeguarding court-based facts are an important foundation for reconciliation and strengthening good neighbourly relations;

Or. en

Amendment 176

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Commends Montenegro for its consistent progress in the domestic handling of war crime cases; notes, however, that since June 2024 the Special State Prosecutor’s Office has not opened any new investigations or filed any indictments in war crimes cases, and that there has been no progress on command responsibility, despite the Chapter 23 benchmark on combating impunity at all levels; encourages Montenegro to continue taking a proactive approach to ensuring access to justice and reparations for victims; welcomes regional cooperation on these issues, including on missing persons;

Or. en

Amendment 177

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Commends Montenegro for its consistent progress in the domestic handling of war crime cases; urges Montenegro to intensify its efforts in punishing war crimes and condemns their glorification, and work on clarifying the fate of missing persons; calls on Montenegro to fight Russian narrative and local radical organisations supporting it; encourages it to continue taking a proactive approach to ensuring access to justice and reparations for victims; welcomes regional cooperation on these issues, including on missing persons;

Or. en

Amendment 178

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Commends Montenegro for its consistent progress in the domestic handling of war crime cases; encourages it to continue taking a proactive, impartial approach, ensuring effective investigations, prosecution and final judgments; underlines the importance of full regional cooperation, including the exchange of evidence, archive access, cooperation with EU Member States and dealing with the issue of missing persons, as well as ensuring adequate reparations for victims;

Or. hr

Amendment 179

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Commends Montenegro for its consistent progress in the domestic handling of war crime cases; encourages it to continue taking a proactive approach to ensuring access to justice and reparations for victims; stresses the importance of ensuring justice and appropriate compensation for former detainees of the Morinj camp, welcomes regional cooperation on these issues, including on missing persons;

Or. en

Amendment 180

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. fi

Amendment 181

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 a. Welcomes the arrest in Montenegro, following a request by the Republic of Croatia, of an individual sentenced in absentia for war crimes against prisoners of war, and commends the cooperation between the competent authorities of both countries in this case; underlines that effective judicial cooperation, accountability for war crimes and the fight against impunity remain essential elements of the rule of law and of progress under Chapter 23 on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights;

Or. en

Amendment 182

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 a. Reiterates its concern regarding expressions of political revisionism, by certain political actors, which distorts historical facts for political purposes, undermines accountability and deepens societal divisions; expresses concern over public actions and decisions that may encourage historical revisionism or further exacerbate societal divisions; strongly condemns any glorification of war criminals and public denial of war crimes;

Or. en

Amendment 183

Andrey Kovatchev, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 a. Expresses concern over political concepts and narratives promoted in the region, including the so-called “Serbian World”, which question the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring states; stresses that such narratives are incompatible with the principles of good neighbourly relations and the EU accession process;

Or. en

Amendment 184

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 a. Underlines the need to excercise caution against malign influence from radical Serbian politicians who instrumentalise the 'Serbian World' doctrine, which constitutes a geopolitical vision advocating cultural and political unity among Serbs across borders echoing the so-called 'Russian World'; recalls that these efforts are an attempt to question Montenegro’s full sovereignty and cultural distinctiveness;

Or. en

Amendment 185

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 a. Rejects any political concepts advocating cross-border unification or coordination based on ethnic identity that undermine the sovereignty of neighbouring states; stresses that the future of the Western Balkans lies in EU integration, not in competing geopolitical spheres of influence;

Or. en

Amendment 186

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22a. Highlights the importance of ensuring full justice and indemnities for the victims of war crimes, including effective reparation mechanisms and institutional support for victims, in accordance with international law and European standards;

Or. hr

Amendment 187

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 b. Recalls the importance of ensuring full access to the archives of the former Yugoslav secret services (UDBA and KOS), including those held in Podgorica and in Belgrade; calls on the Government to formally request access to, and where appropriate the transfer of relevant archival material held in Belgrade in order to enable a comprehensive and impartial investigation of crimes committed during the communist period; stresses that transparent, professional and region-wide handling of the totalitarian past is essential for advancing democratization, strengthening accountability and reinforcing institutional resilience, both nationally and across the Western Balkans; underlines that opening these archives throughout the region would contribute to truth-seeking, justice for victims, reconciliation and the consolidation of democratic governance;

Or. en

Amendment 188

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 b. Reiterates its call to open the archives that concern the former republics of Yugoslavia and for access to be granted to the files of the former Yugoslav Secret Service (UDBA) and the Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS) in order to thoroughly research and address communist era crimes;

Or. en

Amendment 189

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 c. Calls for the resolution of outstanding property issues, including the restitution of property confiscated from 51 Croat families from Tivat; stresses that ensuring legal certainty, non-discrimination and effective remedies in property restitution cases is an integral part of upholding fundamental rights and the rule of law, and remains relevant for progress under Chapter 23 on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights;

Or. en

Amendment 190

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Welcomes Montenegro’s engagement in the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans; commends its progress in implementing its reform agenda, with EUR 18 million disbursed, and encourages further implementation; points out, in this context, that the reforms cannot rely too heavily on EU funding, as this could have a negative impact on the country’s long-term commitment to the implementation of reforms;

Or. fi

Amendment 191

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Welcomes Montenegro’s engagement in the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans; commends its progress in implementing its reform agenda, with EUR 18 million disbursed, and encourages further implementation; highlights the importance of measurable and lasting results in implementing reforms, particularly in the area of the rule of law and public finance management;

Or. hr

Amendment 192

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23 a. Welcomes the EU funding provided to Montenegro thus far under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, amounting to approximately EUR 18 million;

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Amendment 193

Costas Mavrides

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Continues to encourage Montenegro to make full and effective use of all EU funding granted to it, including by improving administrative capacity, speeding up programming and contracting, and improving coordination; highlights the importance of the broad involvement of stakeholders, including local authorities, social partners and civil society; recalls the conditionality of EU financial support;

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Amendment 194

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Continues to encourage Montenegro to make full and effective use of all EU funding granted to it, including by improving administrative capacity, speeding up programming and contracting, and improving coordination; highlights the importance of the broad involvement of stakeholders, including local authorities and civil society; stresses that EU funding for Montenegro is conditional and depends on tangible progress being made in strengthening the rule of law, improving administrative capacity and ensuring the efficient and transparent use of funds;

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Amendment 195

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Continues to encourage Montenegro to make full and effective use of all EU funding granted to it, including by improving administrative capacity, speeding up programming and contracting, and improving coordination; highlights the importance of the broad involvement of stakeholders, including local authorities and civil society; recalls that EU financial support is strictly conditional on progress in reforms and respect for the principle of the rule of law;

Or. hr

Amendment 196

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 a. Calls for strengthened oversight and meaningful participation of civil society organisations, business associations and social partners in all stages of the Western Balkans Reform and Growth Facility, including the design of reform measures, implementation of projects and monitoring of results;

Or. en

Amendment 197

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 a. Underlines that use of EU funds shall be properly monitored and effective measures to prevent their misuse - showing an adequate track record of flagging and preventing misuse - is well-established within the Montenegrin public administration;

Or. en

Amendment 198

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25. Welcomes Montenegro’s operational participation in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA);

25. Welcomes Montenegro’s operational participation in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), recognizing it as a significant milestone in the country’s financial integration with the European Union and as a concrete step that delivers tangible and immediate benefits to citizens and businesses through faster, safer and more cost-effective cross-border payment; notes initial findings indicating significant savings in transaction costs since SEPA became operational in October 2025;

Or. en

Amendment 199

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25. Welcomes Montenegro’s operational participation in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA);

25. Welcomes Montenegro’s operational participation in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA); marking a key step toward deeper financial integration with the EU and lower transaction costs for citizens and businesses;

Or. en

Amendment 200

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25 a. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to open negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia with a view to their integration into the EU’s ‘Roam Like at Home’ regime; emphasises that extending the ‘Roam Like at Home’ area to the Western Balkans would deliver tangible benefits to citizens and businesses alike, fostering people-to-people contacts, boosting economic ties, supporting educational exchanges and facilitating tourism; notes that this initiative builds on existing voluntary roaming arrangements and on the Western Balkans regional roaming agreement endorsed at the Tirana Summit; calls for the swift adoption of the negotiating mandates and the timely conclusion of bilateral agreements with the Western Balkan partners, in order to ensure their rapid and effective integration into the EU’s ‘Roam Like at Home’ area;

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Amendment 201

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25 a. Welcomes the European Commission’s proposal to open negotiations with the Western Balkan partners, including Montenegro, to extend the EU’s ‘Roam Like at Home’ regime, thereby enabling citizens and businesses to benefit from seamless mobile connectivity at domestic rates across the EU and the Western Balkans; underlines that this initiative constitutes a concrete step towards deeper pre-accession integration, supports cross-border social and economic ties and brings tangible benefits to citizens well ahead of full EU membership;

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Amendment 202

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25 a. Warmly welcomes the Commission proposal to open negotiations to extend the EU 'roam like at home' regime to the Western Balkans and calls on the Council to swiftly authorise the opening of negotiations with the Western Balkan partners;

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Amendment 203

Costas Mavrides

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25 a. Welcomes the Commission proposal to open negotiations to extend the EU 'roam like at home' regime to the Western Balkans and calls for the swift conclusion of negotiations with the Western Balkan partners;

Or. en

Amendment 204

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Notes Montenegro’s economic growth and urges continued fiscal discipline, structural reforms, improved governance, and measures to boost competitiveness, private sector growth and foreign investment; underlines the importance of alignment with European and international standards on tax good governance, including transparency and the effective exchange of tax information, in the context of progress under Chapter 16;

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Amendment 205

Giorgos Georgiou

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Notes Montenegro’s economic growth and urges continued fiscal discipline, structural reforms, improved governance, and measures to boost competitiveness, private sector growth and foreign investment; reiterates the need for increased public investments of the education system for sustainable social and economic development;

Or. en

Amendment 206

Marjan Šarec, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 207

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Notes Montenegro’s economic growth and urges it to continue with the fiscal discipline, structural reforms, improved governance, and measures to boost competitiveness, private sector growth and foreign investment that underpin that economic growth;

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Amendment 208

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. Welcomes the steps introduced recently in order to combat supervision in the financial arena, however reiterates that without strong oversight, monitoring powers and credible penalties, the system lacks the necessary tools for proper enforcement, therefore calls Montenegro to effectively combat tax fraud, evasion and avoidance in order to increase budget revenues;

Or. en

Amendment 209

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. Calls on Montenegro to align with the EU framework for the screening of foreign direct investment in order to prevent strategic dependencies and safeguard critical infrastructure and key economic sectors; stresses that transparent and secure investment frameworks are essential for both economic resilience and the credibility of the accession process;

Or. en

Amendment 210

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

27. Calls on Montenegro to boost the digitalisation of public services and enhance business-linked vocational training;

27. Calls on Montenegro to boost the digitalisation of public services and enhance business-linked vocational training; emphasises that, in the context of digitalisation, the protection of citizens’ personal and sensitive data must be ensured in all systems;

Or. fi

Amendment 211

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

27 a. Welcomes the calls for the prompt integration of all Western Balkans into the EU’s Digital Single Market before the actual EU membership, which would crucially benefit the creation of digitally safe environment;

Or. en

Amendment 212

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

27 b. Welcomes the organisation of the first dedicated EU–Montenegro Investment Conference, as a strong signal of deepening economic ties; underlines that advancing economic integration, including sustained efforts to improve the investment climate and attract quality investment aligned with European standards, is crucially important for Montenegro’s long-term EU perspective and the well-being of its citizens;

Or. en

Amendment 213

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

28. Urges Montenegro to intensify its fight against corruption in public procurement by strengthening the legal framework and improving the detection of irregularities, and calls on it to ensure that all intergovernmental agreements fully comply with EU rules and principles;

28. Stresses that persistent corruption, in particular in the area of public procurement, remains incompatible with the obligations and standards expected from an EU candidate country; underlines that it is inconceivable for the Union to admit a new Member State where corruption continues to undermine public institutions and the rule of law; questions, in this regard, Montenegro’s preparedness and suitability to advance further in the EU accession process;

Or. en

Amendment 214

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 215

Andrey Kovatchev, Tomislav Sokol

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

28 a. Calls on Montenegro to introduce robust foreign direct investment screening mechanisms aligned with EU standards, particularly in strategic sectors such as energy, telecommunications, critical infrastructure and media;

Or. en

Amendment 216

Petras Auštrevičius

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

28 a. Calls on Montenegro to align with the EU acquis on screening of foreign direct investments (FDI);

Or. en

Amendment 217

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

28 a. Welcomes the loan of EUR 2 million focused on of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) offered by EBRD and the EU within the framework of the Go Digital in the Western Balkans programme;

Or. en

Amendment 218

Jaroslav Bžoch, Susanna Ceccardi, Silvia Sardone

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

28 b. Reiterates the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), making up the backbone of the economy, generating more than 78% of gross added value in Montenegro;

Or. en

Amendment 219

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

29. Urges Montenegro to step up its efforts towards a sustainable and green transition and to finally adopt and implement its national energy and climate plan; calls for full alignment with the Electricity Integration Package, and for stronger energy efficiency measures;

29. Questions the expectation that candidate countries should adopt the same Green Deal policies that many Member States are already struggling to implement; stresses that enlargement should not become a mechanism for exporting costly and controversial policy experiments to aspiring members;

Or. en

Amendment 220

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

29. Urges Montenegro to step up its efforts towards a sustainable and clean transition and to finally adopt and implement its national energy and climate plan; calls for full alignment with the Electricity Integration Package, and for stronger energy efficiency measures;

Or. fi

Amendment 221

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

29. Urges Montenegro to step up its efforts towards a sustainable and green transition and to finally adopt and implement its national energy and climate plan; highlights the importance of energy security, the diversification of supply, and full integration within the regional and European energy market; calls for full alignment with the Electricity Integration Package, and for stronger energy efficiency measures;

Or. hr

Amendment 222

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

29 a. Calls on Montenegro to further reduce strategic dependencies on external actors in the energy sector and to accelerate diversification and interconnectivity projects aligned with the EU energy acquis;

Or. en

Amendment 223

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

29 b. Stresses the importance of preventing strategic infrastructure projects from becoming instruments of geopolitical leverage; calls for alignment with EU security-of-supply standards and transparent procurement procedures;

Or. en

Amendment 224

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30. Calls on Montenegro to increase its efforts to meet Chapter 27 closing benchmarks, and accelerate alignment with and effective implementation of the EU environmental acquis across all relevant sectors, including on air quality, water, nature protection, waste management, industrial pollution and climate change, and to adopt air quality and nature protection strategies and action plans, and local waste management plans; welcomes the fact that Montenegro has joined the EU LIFE programme;

Or. en

Amendment 225

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30. Calls on Montenegro to increase its efforts to meet Chapter 27 closing benchmarks, focusing on air quality, water, nature protection, waste management and climate change, and to adopt air quality and nature protection strategies and action plans, and local waste management plans; welcomes the fact that Montenegro has joined the EU LIFE programme; calls on all parties to reach an agreement on the waste water treatment plant in Zeta municipality in a way which respects both the urgent environmental need to build the plant and the concerns of the local population;

Or. en

Amendment 226

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30 a. Calls on Montenegro to safeguard areas of high biodiversity value, including river ecosystems relevant to Emerald and future Natura 2000 designation, by refraining from authorising hydropower or other infrastructure projects unless full compliance with EU environmental acquis is demonstrably ensured; highlights the case of Komarnica, which is under consideration for UNESCO Natural Heritage status;

Or. en

Amendment 227

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30 b. Calls on Montenegro to significantly accelerate the establishment and effective implementation of the Natura 2000 network in full alignment with the EU environmental acquis, ensuring that the identification, designation and management of protected sites are based on sound scientific criteria and transparent public consultation processes;

Or. en

Amendment 228

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30 c. Calls on Montenegro to ensure effective legal protection for Emerald candidate sites under the Bern Convention as a transitional safeguard pending Natura 2000 designation; calls on Montenegro to ensure that spatial planning is fully compliant with national legal procedures and aligned with EU nature legislation, and does not undermine the coherence and integrity of the future Natura 2000 network;

Or. en

Amendment 229

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30 d. Welcomes the agreement between the Government and the Municipality of Ulcinj to establish the management body for the Ulcinj Salina Nature Park; calls for its swift operationalisation, including qualified staffing, formal adoption and implementation of the management plan, and the allocation of a sufficient and predictable budget; calls on the Commission to reflect tangible conservation outcomes at Ulcinj Salina in its assessment of readiness under Chapter 27;

Or. en

Amendment 230

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 e (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30 e. Calls for the urgent adoption of the new Law on Nature Protection and the necessary implementing by-laws to enable effective alignment with the Birds and Habitats Directives;

Or. en

Amendment 231

Stanislav Stoyanov

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

30 a. Welcomes the decision for Tivat to host the next Western Balkan Summit on 5 June 2026; stresses that the Summit should serve as an opportunity to review progress on regional connectivity and the development of the Trans-European Networks; underlines that regional integration and infrastructure development should contribute to job creation both nationally and across the region;

Or. en

Amendment 232

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

31. Calls on Montenegro to boost its administrative capacity and improve its decision-making on infrastructure projects; invites Montenegro to shift its transport policy towards sustainable and smart mobility;

Or. fi

Amendment 233

Vladimir Prebilič

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

31. Calls on Montenegro to boost its administrative and inspection capacities at national and local level, to improve inter-institutional coordination and improve its decision-making on infrastructure projects, including establishing an effective coordination mechanism between Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and Appropriate Assessment (AA) procedures, ensuring meaningful public participation and effective enforcement and with a view to prioritizing biodiversity protection and public health; invites Montenegro to shift its transport policy towards sustainable and smart mobility;

Or. en

Amendment 234

Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

31 a. Is concerned about the recent blockades of border crossing points towards the Schengen Area by professional drivers from Montenegro and other Western Balkan countries in relation to the implementation of the EU Entry-Exit System (EES) as of October 2025, in particular regarding the application of the 90 days stay limit within any 180-day period rule to cross-border transport operators; underlines that prolonged such connectivity disruptions risk negatively affecting supply chains, trade flows and economic relations between the EU and Montenegro, given the high level of economic integration and the fact that the EU is Montenegro’s main trading partner; calls on the European Commission to assess, in close cooperation with the Member States and the Montenegrin authorities, possible pragmatic and legally sound solutions that would take into account the operational realities of the transport sector, while fully preserving the integrity of the Schengen acquis, ensuring appropriate safeguards and preventing any abuse; stresses that a balanced approach is necessary to maintain enlargement credibility and to avoid unintended economic disruption within the internal market;

Or. en

Amendment 235

Sebastian Everding, Rima Hassan

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

31 a. Urges stronger enforcement of animal welfare legislation, adequate support and oversight of shelters, comprehensive sterilisation and castration programmes to address the stray animal population and to ensure the full and effective enforcement of existing animal welfare legislation in practice and calls for enhanced public education on responsible pet ownership in line with Montenegro’s EU accession commitments;

Or. en

Amendment 236

Davor Ivo Stier, Sunčana Glavak

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

31a. Highlights the importance of regional transport and energy connectivity as a key element of economic development and stability in the Western Balkans, and calls for projects that deepen integration with the EU Member States;

Or. hr

Amendment 237

Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

32. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President, Government and Parliament of Montenegro.

32. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and to translate it into Montenegrin and forward it to the President, Government and Parliament of Montenegro.

Or. en