Montenegro must make it possible for its citizens to vote freely and exercise their constitutional rights without restriction, the European Parliament's permanent rapporteur on Montenegro, Tonino Picula, and the head of the EP Delegation in Montenegro, Vladimir Bilcik, said on Friday.

Bilcik and Picula issued the statement to Montenegrin citizens and institutions ahead of parliamentay elections in that country, set for August 30.

“Montenegrin institutions have a great responsibility ahead of the parliamentary election on 30 August. Conducting elections during a pandemic has been a challenging task across Europe. The state must ensure that citizens vote freely and exercise their constitutional rights without restriction, at the same time respecting strict health recommendations and guidelines to protect their safety,” the statement reads.

“We hope that the results of Sunday’s vote will contribute to Montenegro’s stability and represent the next step in achieving its European future. As a member of NATO, Montenegro is already part of European security structures and must strengthen its commitment to future membership in the European Union”, they stated.

Picula and Bilcik expressed their deepest condolences to all the citizens of Montenegro who lost family members and friends during the Covid-19 pandemic.

They recalled that the EU had set aside €60 million in aid for Montenegro to help remove the consequences of the pandemic.

Eleven political parties and coalitions are running in the August 30 parliamentary election in Montenegro.