HRA expects the opening of accession negotiations between EU and Montenegro to induce fundamental changes in Montenegro, especially regarding the rule of law and suppression of impunity for human rights violations and other misuse of authority tolerated to date.

Therefore we hope that the European Council will accept the recommendation of the Commission and determine the earliest possible date for the start of the negotiations in 2012 and encourage the authorized decision makers to acknowledge expert NGO recommendations to the end of a sooner European future of Montenegro.

The Commission’s decision that the negotiations with Montenegro should begin and end with chapters on Justice and Human Rights affirms the importance of these issues, on which HRA has been insisting for years. It is a clear message that Montenegro will not be granted access to EU until it demonstrates to have judiciary competent to provide equality before the law and effective protection of human rights.

HRA recently published a report ”Human Rights in Montenegro 2010-2011” with 225 recommendations for the Government and Judiciary on how to improve current situation and ensure respect for human rights in Montenegro.