Presentation of the Study on the degree of engagement of Montenegro in the EU accession process
CEDEM, in partnership with PASOS from the Czech Republic, has prepared a national study on the degree of engagement of Montenegro in the process of accession to the European Union. The Study is the final activity of the project Enlargement and Citizenship – Looking to the Future, which is implemented with the support of the European Commission, through the Europe for Citizens program, with five partner organizations from the region.
The National Study presents an analysis of the results that Montenegro has achieved so far in the process of joining the EU, but it also deals with the assessment of the state’s involvement in that process. The focus of the negotiation process with the EU is, of course, the reform of the Montenegrin judiciary and public administration, as well as a more determined fight against corruption and organized crime. According to CEDEM’s political opinion polls, citizens’ trust in Montenegrin institutions is on a negative trend. Although this research shows that public support for the EU accession process is declining, Montenegrin society still has a positive view of the EU integration process, especially in relation to encouraging democratic reforms and institution building. It is interesting to note that, despite the existence of a broad political consensus and public support for Montenegro’s EU accession process, research shows that a very small percentage of those who believe are sufficiently informed about the process. The findings of the study indicate that one of the main reasons for the lack of understanding of this process by citizens is precisely the inadequate and insufficient information of the public about the EU enlargement process. It is necessary to strengthen the participatory role of citizens in the accession process and develop special communication channels and ensure access to information for certain groups of citizens, depending on their age, education, occupation, area in which they live.
You can download the study via the link:
