Montenegro - Foreign Relations
On 14 March 2002, following months of negotiations between the two republics and mediation by EU High Representative Javier Solana, the federal and republic level governments signed the 'Belgrade Agreement' forming a looser union between Serbia and Montenegro. With the formal adoption of a new Constitutional Charter on 4 February 2003 the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Foreign policy, defence policy, foreign economic relations and human/minority rights were dealt with at State Union level. Svetozar Marovic, a Montenegrin, was appointed President of The Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro.
The State Union was intended to promote stability within the region and to help both republics to make further progress towards European integration, but, since its birth, opinion about the future of the union was divided in both republics and it never functioned effectively. Under the terms of the Constitutional Charter either republic could hold a referendum on independence after three years. In 2006 Montenegro decided to exercise this right and, in co-operation with the EU, held a referendum on its future status on 21 May. The result was 55.5% in favour of independence.
The Montenegro Assembly made a formal declaration of independence on 3 June 2006, thus bringing the union between Serbia and Montenegro to an end. Since then Montenegro has been transforming itself into an independent sovereign state, establishing diplomatic relations and applying for membership of international organisations that it was a member of as part of the Union.
On 5 June 2006 the Serbian National Assembly decreed Serbia to be the continuing international personality of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, fully succeeding its legal status. Serbia therefore inherited membership of international organisations of which Serbia and Montenegro was a member and remains party to all international agreements, treaties and conventions to which Serbia and Montenegro was a party.
Since the 2006 declaration of independence, the European Union, Serbia, and all permanent members of the UN Security Council have recognized Montenegro. The UN General Assembly voted on June 28, 2006, to admit Montenegro as a new member state. Montenegro joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on June 22, 2006, and the Council of Europe on May 11, 2007. Montenegro became the 156th member of the World Trade Organization in December 2011.
Montenegro is a member of the United Nations (UN), Organization for Security and Coordination in Europe (OSCE), and the Council of Europe. Following the dissolution of the State Union with Serbia in May 2006, Montenegro has become a member of several international financial institutions, including the IMF, World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Montenegro is also pursuing its own membership to the World Trade Organisation.
Montenegro is committed to nurturing and developing good relations with its neighbors, considering this as a constituent part of its European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Moreover, Montenegro is devoted to the improvement of existing and creation of new forms of cooperation in the regional context, with the aim of maximising the opportunities for economic development, encouraging substantial democratic processes and contributing to fostering and preserving regional stability. Montenegro particularly advocates the concept of establishing closer ties with the broader neighborhood. This involves not only bordering countries, but also Macedonia and Slovenia, as well as Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria.
European and Euro-Atlantic integration has been one of the driving forces behind the reform process that led to the signing of a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU) in October 2007. On May 1, 2010, the SAA came into force after ratification by all 27 EU member states. On November 9, 2010, the European Commission recommended that Montenegro be approved as an EU candidate country, with the stipulation that accession negotiations begin after seven “key priorities” were addressed.
That decision was ratified by the European Council, and EU candidate status was granted on December 17, 2010. Montenegro would begin negotiations to join the EU in 2012 if it meets the conditions set down by the European Council, which primarily call on Montenegro to take further steps to fight corruption and organized crime. Citizens overwhelmingly support EU membership, although the country faces continued challenges in its quest for Euro-Atlantic integration. The government also continues to pursue NATO membership.
Montenegro's relations with her neighbors are complicated by the legacy of the 1990’s. However, since independence Montenegro has continued to foster good bilateral regional relations with intensified co-operation particularly in the areas of cross border co-operation and science and technology. It has been a constructive regional player, building good relations with all its neighbors. Montenegro actively participates in numerous regional initiatives (such as CEFTA, which it currently chairs, SECI, the Stability Pact, etc.). Montenegro and Croatia agreed to refer a dispute over their maritime border (at the entrance to Kotor Bay) to the ICJ, offering a potential model for resolution of similar disputes elsewhere in the region.
In possibly its biggest foreign policy decision since independence, the Government announced Montenegro's recognition of Kosovo as an independent country in October 2008. The Government faced fierce opposition to this decision domestically (32 percent of the population consider themselves Serbs) and from the Government of Serbia. The establishment of full diplomatic relations with Pristina continued to be a delicate political issue for the Government.
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