"We were informed about the results of the voting in the Assembly of Montenegro. We hereby express our deep disappointment with the unsuccessful attempt to appoint judges of the Constitutional Court and with the adoption of the Law on Amendments to the Law on the President of Montenegro. We are disappointed that the Venice Commission's Urgent Opinion on the Law on Amendments to the Law on the President of Montenegro, published on December 9, was not taken into account during the vote.
The adoption of the amendments by 41 members of the ruling majority is a direct threat to Montenegro's long-standing European ambitions, including respect for the principles of constitutionality and the rule of law. The results of the vote are a threat to the process of accession of Montenegro to the European Union and could push Montenegro into a long political crisis and constitutional chaos.
We hereby appeal to all political stakeholders in the country to rise above their divisions and immediately re-establish the functionality of democratic institutions in accordance with constitutional principles. We call on political leaders to fulfill the expectations of the vast majority of Montenegrin citizens who support the country's European future, by working on the commitment to EU membership and speeding up the reforms necessary for EU integration.
To our great regret, no negotiation chapter has been closed in the last five years. The development of the political situation in Montenegro in the last few months has called into question the country's position as a leader in the EU accession process.
That is why we hereby call for a quick political agreement that will end the mandate of this government without any delays and pave the way for new elections for the Assembly of Montenegro".
