WRITTEN QUESTION E-1063/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Making the Montenegrin people's choice with regard to independence no longer dependent on punishing or rewarding the Yugoslav regime

1. Can you confirm that on 9 February there was a visit, on behalf of the Union's troika, to the Montenegrin capital Podgorica when the view put across to the President and Prime Minister of Montenegro was that Montenegro should reach an agreement with Serbia on maintaining a reformed Federal Republic of Yugoslavia?

2. Does the Council recall that in late 1991 or early 1992 the Council, on behalf of the European Union, took the view that all six federal republics of what was then the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had the same right to recognition as independent states, and that Montenegro was the only one of the federal states to voluntarily waive this right because at the time in question a political majority had chosen to uphold the decision taken in 1918 to dissolve the independent state of Montenegro in favour of a shared future with Serbia?

3. Does the Council realise that the willingness at that time of the European Union to recognise the Montenegrin state had an impact on Montenegro's domestic politics and contributed to the rise of parties advocating a return to independence, the official boycotting of Yugoslav parliamentary and presidential elections and to the government drafting a referendum in which Montenegrin voters can express an opinion for or against independence?

4. How does the Council assess the fact that Montenegrins themselves have an opportunity of choosing between:

(a) the offer made by Yugoslavia's new President Kostunica elected only by Serbians to form a new (con)federation under the name Srbija-Crnagora (Serbia-Montenegro), or

(b) retaining their de facto independence, the result of isolation of the Milosevic regime, which would give them the same status as that now acknowledged for the other former republics of Yugoslavia?

5. Is the Council prepared in future to refrain from encouraging separatism and from making the choice between separation and reunification a form of punishment or reward for whatever Yugoslav regime, but to recognise that democracy, peace and stability can best function if decisions on the future of a state are taken not by outsiders but by the inhabitants themselves?

Reply

(20 November 2001)

The Council confirms that an EU Troika visited Podgorica on 9 February to explain, inter alia, the EU position on the future relationship between Serbia and Montenegro. It underlined the need for dialogue and the avoidance of unilateral steps, as such steps could have detrimental consequences for the stability of the Western Balkans region. The Troika also expressed the EU's preference for a redefined federal framework. A similar message was passed on by the EU Troika after the parliamentary elections in Montenegro on 22 April.

The Council has never encouraged Montenegro to seek independence. Even during the final stages of the Milosevic regime, when the EU supported Montenegro politically and economically against mounting pressure from Belgrade, the EU continued to dissuade President Djukanovic from breaking away from the federation.

Montenegrin independence, especially but not only if declared unilaterally, would be likely to have a domino effect on other parts of the region, e.g. Kosovo, Sandjak or the Albanian-speaking parts of FYROM, posing a serious threat to the stability of the Balkans. The international community is paying a high price for Balkan instability, as indeed is the population of the region and therefore has every right to take a view on the outcome. For this reason the Council continues to uphold its preference for a negotiated settlement, satisfactory to both parties and based on a democratic, transparent process and the immediate resumption of dialogue between Belgrade and Podgorica for the redefinition of the constitutional arrangements governing their relations in a new federal framework, in compliance with democratic principles and on terms conducive to regional stability. The recent election results in Montenegro are also encouraging from this point of view. The radically changed political situation in the FRY and the establishment of a democratic government in Belgrade both at the federal and republican level should be conducive to such a solution.