WRITTEN QUESTION No. 433/98 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Commission. How to encourage positive developments in Montenegro
Date: 1998-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: Montenegro, Serbia, constitutional law, democratisation, human rights, international sanctions, mass media, restriction of liberty, trade restriction

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/173

(98/C 223/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0433/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Commission

(24 February 1998)

Subject: How to encourage positive developments in Montenegro

In the Yugoslav republic of Montenegro the process of transition to an open and democratic society is more
advanced than in the other Yugoslav republic of Serbia. If Montenegro is permitted to develop unhindered in this
direction, it may have a positive effect on the situation both in Serbia and in Yugoslavia as a whole. This positive
development, however, is being held back both by internal and external factors.

Internally, negative pressure is being brought to bear by the Serbian authorities, both directly and through the
institutions of the Yugoslav Federation. For example, the state media in Serbia have for months been passing a
smear campaign against the new Montenegrin president Djukanovic and his allies.

Externally, Montenegro has to contend with restrictive rules on finance and trade, which have been imposed on
Yugoslavia as a whole by the international community.

Can  the  Commission  state  whether  it  is  possible  to  encourage  the  positive  development  of  the  situation  in
Montenegro, and if so, how?

Is  the  Commission  prepared  to  urge  both  the  Serbian  and  the  Yugoslav  authorities,  through  the  appropriate
channels, to respect the Republic of Montenegro(cid:146)s right under the Yugoslav Basic Law to order its own affairs?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 1998)

The Commission contributes to the continued positive developments in Montenegro by means of support for
democratisation, human and minority rights and independent media, all of which have an important role to play.
There is also clear political support by the Union for genuine democratisation efforts in Montenegro.

The eligibility of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) for inclusion in the autonomous trade regime and the
PHARE programme is subject to compliance with the relevant political and economic conditionality, with which
it has continued to fail to comply. As these measures and programmes apply to states (i.e. the FRY) rather than
their constituent parts (e.g. the republics of Serbia and Montenegro), neither the trade preferences nor PHARE
are  available  to  Montenegro  at  this  time.  Appropriate  projects  might,  however,  be  financed  from  the  budget
available for reconstruction in former Yugoslavia.

(98/C 223/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0455/98

by Carlo Secchi (PPE) to the Commission

(27 February 1998)

Subject: Change in the delimitation of the mountain areas of the mountain community of Lario Orientale

In 1995 the mountain community of Lario Orientale (Lecco) submitted a request to DG VI through the competent
ministry to extend the delimitation of its mountain areas within the meaning of Directive 75/268 (1) (superseded
by Regulation No 950/97 (2)).

In March 1996 it forwarded the supplementary documentation requested by the Directorate-General.

According to the Commission it has not yet approved the procedure, albeit complete and entirely in conformity
with  the  rules  in  force,  because  it  is  awaiting  final  consideration  of  the  requests  that  have  meanwhile  been
submitted by other Italian regions.