5th meeting, Podgorica, 2 December 2014 JOINT DECLARATION The EU-Montenegro Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) is one of the bodies set up within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Montenegro. The JCC enables civil society organisations from both sides to monitor Montenegro's progress towards the European Union, and to adopt recommendations for the attention of the Government of Montenegro and the EU institutions. The JCC is made up of twelve members, six from each side, representing the EESC and Montenegrin civil society. During its current term (2013–2015), the JCC is co-chaired by Andrej member of the EESC and of the Governing board of the Slovenian Association of Free Trade Zorko, Unions, and member of the Social Council of Montenegro and Secretary General Suzana Radulović, of the Montenegrin Union of Employers. The fifth meeting of the JCC was attended by Alberto Cammarata, Head of Political and Economic Section at the EU Delegation to Montenegro, and Secretary General Predrag Stamatović, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro. The members of the JCC discussed the state of play in Montenegro's EU accession negotiations, with a debate on Chapters 23 (Judiciary and 24 (Justice, and fundamental rights) freedom and focusing on anti-discrimination policies especially regarding LGBTI & Roma rights. They security), also adopted reports on Chapter 20 (Enterprise of the accession negotiations. and industrial policy) Negotiations of Montenegro's accession to the European Union JCC members welcome the progress of the accession negotiations, with the opening of three new chapters. They call on continued and firm political commitment of the Montenegrin Government and state institutions to the effective implementation of the Action Plans for Chapters 23 and 24, as well as working towards further progress in other areas of alignment with the EU acquis. JCC members also call for the continuation of involvement of the civil society organizations in the implementation of the Action Plans for Chapters 23 and 24, and in the overall monitoring of accession negotiations to ensure transparency and ownership of the enlargement process. The JCC commends the fact that the Government appointed the new Council for development of non-governmental organizations in July 2014. JCC members stress that the development of the Montenegrin civil society needs to be further promoted, in particular by creating a
5th meeting, Podgorica, 2 December 2014 JOINT DECLARATION The EU-Montenegro Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) is one of the bodies set up within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Montenegro. The JCC enables civil society organisations from both sides to monitor Montenegro's progress towards the European Union, and to adopt recommendations for the attention of the Government of Montenegro and the EU institutions. The JCC is made up of twelve members, six from each side, representing the EESC and Montenegrin civil society. During its current term (2013–2015), the JCC is co-chaired by Andrej Zorko, member of the EESC and of the Governing board of the Slovenian Association of Free Trade Unions, and Suzana Radulović, member of the Social Council of Montenegro and Secretary General of the Montenegrin Union of Employers. The fifth meeting of the JCC was attended by Alberto Cammarata, Head of Political and Economic Section at the EU Delegation to Montenegro, and Predrag Stamatović, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro. The members of the JCC discussed the state of play in Montenegro's EU accession negotiations, with a debate on Chapters 23 (Judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (Justice, freedom and security), focusing on anti-discrimination policies especially regarding LGBTI & Roma rights. They also adopted reports on Chapter 20 (Enterprise and industrial policy) of the accession negotiations. Negotiations of Montenegro's accession to the European Union JCC members welcome the progress of the accession negotiations, with the opening of three new chapters. They call on continued and firm political commitment of the Montenegrin Government and state institutions to the effective implementation of the Action Plans for Chapters 23 and 24, as well as working towards further progress in other areas of alignment with the EU acquis. JCC members also call for the continuation of involvement of the civil society organizations in the implementation of the Action Plans for Chapters 23 and 24, and in the overall monitoring of accession negotiations to ensure transparency and ownership of the enlargement process. The JCC commends the fact that the Government appointed the new Council for development of non-governmental organizations in July 2014. JCC members stress that the development of the Montenegrin civil society needs to be further promoted, in particular by creating a