European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Stabilisation and Association Agreement) (Republic of Montenegro) Order 2009

My Lords, the stabilisation and association agreement is an international agreement between Montenegro and the European Community and its member states which was signed on 15 October 2007. This treaty has not yet entered into force but will do so once all 27 countries have ratified it. This order is a necessary step towards the UK’s ratification. The principal effect of the draft order is to ensure that the powers under Section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 would be available to give effect to any provisions of the agreement and permit any expenditure arising from the SAA to be from the consolidated fund. Montenegro secured its independence in May 2006. It is the fifth country in the western Balkans to apply to join the EU and, as with all other countries in the region, Montenegro shares a troubled past. However, our task today is not to look to Montenegro’s past but to debate its future and the reform process by which Montenegro can move towards the EU. The UK is a strong supporter of EU enlargement, including for the countries of the western Balkans. Enlargement has been one of the European Union’s biggest success stories, creating stability, security and prosperity across our continent. A larger EU gives a stronger influence in shaping global action to meet today’s challenges and helps business and our economy by providing access to a bigger market. We recognise, too, that it is important that enlargement is based upon conditionality; that a country may only join the EU once it has met all the criteria for membership and has undertaken the necessary reforms to do so. The implementation of the stabilisation and association agreement begins the process to a time when Montenegro might be able to start moving toward full accession to the EU; it is an important step in the fulfilment of that conditionality. Montenegro has come a long way since independence and should be commended for the efforts it has made to put in place a thorough reform process. The stabilisation and association agreement recognises Montenegro as a "potential candidate" for the EU. It sets out clear stages for Montenegro’s progress towards eventual EU membership via a closer partnership with the EU under the EU’s stabilisation and association process. I emphasise that it is a rigorous, condition-based process. The efforts Montenegro has made in implementing its interim agreement demonstrate that the prospect of EU membership accession continues to encourage reform. The most recent European Commission progress report in October 2009 shows that Montenegro has made progress on political and judicial reform, but highlights the need for further progress in specific areas such as strengthening administrative capacity and fighting corruption. It also gave a positive assessment of Montenegro’s performance on regional co-operation. Montenegro’s SAA has now been ratified by 23 of the EU member states, as well as by the Montenegran and European Parliaments. A track record of SAA implementation is required before Montenegro can achieve candidate status. The avis questionnaire, which Montenegro is currently completing, will also play a key role in identifying future reforms for the country before Montenegro begins the process of opening accession chapters. I am satisfied that the order is compatible with the rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights. I commend this draft order to the Committee.