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

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the order, whose purpose, as we have heard, is formally to give parliamentary approval to an EU stabilisation and association agreement with Montenegro. It is a beautiful country, proud of its long history. We never forget what the famous Montenegran writer, Milovan Djilas, wrote in Land Without Justice: ""For centuries this country’s social and political life was organised on a patriarchal, tribal basis in which the bratstvo (family ties) was vital"." Despite much modernisation, it is still a tough and brutal country that has not forgotten its old feuds, described by the Minister as a "troubled past". This only goes to endorse the importance of association with the EU. The SAA provides for enhanced co-operation between Montenegro and the European Union. The agreement was signed in October 2007, following Montenegro’s gaining of independence from Serbia and, effectively, the former Yugoslavia. It covers a wide range of subjects, including Montenegran accession to the WTO, and promotes further regional co-operation between Montenegro and its neighbours. Montenegro will be helped to conform to EU standards and to foster freer trade with the European Union and its neighbours, some of which are also undertaking similar processes. There are additional measures on co-operation to combat terrorism, border and visa controls, money laundering and people trafficking. Montenegro has declared its interest in joining the Union. The country is now recognised by the EU as a potential candidate for membership. As the shadow Minister for Europe noted in another place, the SAA may not be the most controversial of treaties on European matters—I doubt that this order will face much, if any, strong opposition. However, should the order be passed, it will represent an agreement with the UK. With this in mind, I have a few probing questions which I am looking forward to the Minister answering. The European Commission’s Montenegro progress report for 2009 concludes that Montenegro has made progress in the political sphere, judicial field and border disputes, to name a few. The European Scrutiny Committee’s report of 11 November stated that the Commission is preparing an opinion on the application for membership from Montenegro. I have three questions. Is the Minister aware of any further developments in this regard and does she believe that Montenegro is likely to become officially a candidate of the EU in the near future? Secondly, what is her assessment of relations with Russia regarding future development in Montenegro? Thirdly, does the order act as a fast track to EU membership or does it mean that Montenegro becomes a potential candidate? I hope that we can learn from previous experience and insist on institutional reform prior to EU accession, in contrast to the accessions to the EU of Austria, Sweden and Finland in 1994, and later of Bulgaria and Romania, which led to so many complex problems and difficult decisions. The EU interior Ministers have recently announced their intention to relax visa restrictions for those travelling from Montenegro to the EU. Will the Minister confirm if that applies specifically to the UK? The progress report also stated that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has deemed Montenegran compliance as generally satisfactory. Does the EU share that view? How did it reach its estimation? Does the EU have cause to believe that wanted war criminals from the Balkans, particularly from the former Yugoslavia, may be in the country? In conclusion, we on these Benches support the progression of this order, and agree that Montenegro’s development in recent years has been encouraging. We acknowledge that agreement of the order could foster much more political and economic progress. I look forward to the Minister’s response, especially to our questions.