Podgorica, (MINA) – Insisting on identity issues will only distance Montenegro from the EU, said Thomas Waitz, chair of the EU-Montenegro Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee, adding that all parties should focus on topics that bring the country closer to the membership.

In an interview with Pobjeda daily, Waitz said that Montenegro has made significant progress in EU integration over the past year, but still faces many challenges in terms of reforms and approach to the governance.

Waitz expressed concern that the initiatives based primarily on so-called identity politics are drawing attention away from the crucial topics in the EU accession process.

He stated that during his meeting with Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic he conveyed his concerns over these issues, and called on him not to invest efforts in identity politics.

Waitz noted that the foreign agents act has never entered legislative procedure, adding that there is no doubt that such an initiative would undermine the EU accession process.

Speaking about dual citizenship, he said that it is a complex issue, since there are citizens who have lived in Montenegro for over 20 years without citizenship, but that Montenegro is a small country, and that one of its neighbors has repeatedly denied its independence.

Commenting on the EC Report on Montenegro, Waitz remarked that it is the most positive report he has ever seen and that it to a great extent acknowledges the progress made in the previous year.

He said that while a lot has been done in the past year, many important decisions still need to be made, including legislative reform, judicial reforms and the appointment of a Supreme Court President.