Kommersant: Abazovic’s Government Fell Due to Missed EU Membership Opportunity

Dritana Abazovic/BETAPHOTO/HINA/Admir BULJUBASIC

According to the Aug. 22 edition of the Moscow daily Kommersant, the Montenegrin government headed by Dritan Abazovic was toppled because its leader failed to seize the unique opportunity – presented by the Ukrainian crisis – for Montenegro to join the EU by 2025.

The paper claims that, during this summer’s visit to Podgorica, EU leaders made it clear that, should Montenegro finish its judiciary reform in the following few months – when the composition of its highest judicial institutions is to be decided – the country could conclude its accession negotiations with the Union in the autumn and become a EU member in two or three years’ time.

“This unique chance for Montenegro arose amid the Ukrainian crisis – when the EU wanted to assert its openness to new members while at once avoiding a massive influx of new members. The integration of small Montenegro, which had been holding a steady course toward membership, seemed to Brussels like an ideal solution,” Kommersant wrote.

Citing an unnamed source close to Montenegro’s leadership, the daily claimed that “early [parliamentary] elections are absolutely unavoidable and could be held next spring, along with the [regular] presidential [elections].” “Based on reactions to the fall of Abazovic’s government, this option is acceptable to the EU,” the paper concluded.