Citizens’ Forum Debates EU Enlargement

Citizens' Forum Debates EU Enlargement

The Parliament of Montenegro and the European Parliament, with the support of the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM), have hosted a Citizens' Forum dedicated to the question of European Union enlargement.

Over the course of two days, a group of randomly selected Montenegrin citizens, reflecting the country's demographic profile, discussed the key benefits and responsibilities that come with European integration. The forum also explored the challenges and opportunities of EU membership, with particular emphasis on economic development and the persistent problem of young and highly skilled people leaving the country.

What lent the process particular weight was the direct engagement of members of the Montenegrin Parliament and the European Parliament, who used open dialogue to bring political processes closer to the public.

Addressing the forum, MEP Thomas Waitz underlined that elected office carries with it a responsibility to represent the interests of citizens, warning that elections alone are not enough if dialogue is restricted to occasional cycles.

He argued for the establishment of permanent consultation mechanisms, including diverse forms of public debate, to ensure that citizens are continuously involved in decision-making - in line with Europe's values of democracy and the rule of law.

Citizens, for their part, seized the opportunity to put forward their concerns and expectations regarding Montenegro's path towards EU membership.

Source: CEDEM.ME; RTPV Portal