Glavak: Hrvatska je uz Crnu Goru na putu prema EU, ali očekuje rezultate

European Parliament member Sunčana Glavak stated during an official visit to Montenegro that Croatia supports Montenegro’s European Union accession path while demanding resolution of specific bilateral disputes. Speaking within the framework of the Parliamentary Committee for Stabilization and Association between the EU and Montenegro, Glavak emphasized that Croatian support is contingent upon Montenegro respecting international law and addressing historical issues. Her office released a statement on Thursday detailing these positions. Glavak noted that Croatia views Montenegro as its next EU neighbor and acknowledges progress made so far. However, she argued that European integration requires responsibility toward neighbors. She highlighted that Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic placed enlargement policy high on the agenda during Croatia’s presidency of the Council of the EU. As tangible proof of support, Glavak pointed out that Croatia transferred translations of European legal heritage worth eight million euros to Montenegro without charge. The representative raised several unresolved matters critical to Croatia. These include determining the fate of missing persons, compensating former prisoners of the Morinj camp, returning the school ship Jadran, resolving maritime border delimitation, prosecuting war crimes, and combating historical revisionism. Glavak stressed the need for an unequivocal condemnation of glorifying convicted war criminals and denying their crimes. She asserted that reconciliation cannot be built on forgetting but must rely on truth, justice, and respect for victims. While recognizing positive shifts, she expects continued concrete actions and fulfillment of remaining requirements. She also cited the importance of judicial reforms, strengthening institutions, fighting corruption and organized crime, and ensuring political stability and democratic standards. Croatian media outlet Pobjeda reported earlier this week that Glavak expressed concern over unresolved issues at a committee session. She specifically mentioned the case of Ratko Mladic and the phenomenon of historical revisionism. Responding to Montenegrin MP Jelena Bozovic of the New Serbian Democracy party, Glavak used a family analogy, stating that entering a new family with unresolved accounts with half the relatives is a poor start. She added that without Croatia, Montenegro would not have reached its current position, and acknowledged that past criticisms were justified. Bozovic had previously questioned whether Croatia aimed to condition Montenegro’s EU path, suggesting that sincere intent could lead to solutions. The committee did not accept linking negotiations to open questions between Zagreb and Podgorica. In related diplomatic developments, the Russian embassy in Podgorica announced that Russia will introduce visa requirements for Montenegrin citizens starting December 30, 2026. This decision follows Montenegro’s announcement that it will require visas for Russian nationals beginning November 1, ending the previous visa-free regime. The Russian embassy stated it will strictly adhere to the intergovernmental agreement signed on September 24, 2008, which regulated visa-free travel. Since Montenegro officially notified Russia of its withdrawal from the treaty, the agreement ceases to apply on December 30. From that date, Montenegrins will need visas for all types of passports to enter the Russian Federation, in accordance with Federal Law No. 114-FZ regarding entry and exit procedures. Montenegro’s government decided in July to align its visa policy with EU rules, a requirement in its accession process. Starting November 1, citizens of Russia, Belarus, Turkey, China, and Saudi Arabia will need visas to enter Montenegro, unless they meet exemption conditions. The change marks a shift in regional travel dynamics as Montenegro adjusts its policies to meet European standards.