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Lost in translation: Montenegro's EU accession faces a language barrier
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- Montenegro aims to join the EU by 2028 but may struggle to fully translate all EU laws (the acquis) into its official language before accession, prompting the European Commission to consider temporary derogations.
- The Commission is exploring options such as allowing Montenegro to use another official EU language, likely Croatian, as an interim solution due to the linguistic similarities and ongoing translation challenges.
- Croatia's concerns about the quality of some translated legal texts and its bilateral dispute with Montenegro add complexity and could delay the accession process.
- While Montenegro has invested in administrative capacity and insists it will meet deadlines, the Commission is preparing contingency plans, reflecting flexibility in translation requirements based on precedents from Malta and Ireland.
- The proposed use of Croatian as a temporary language may face political resistance in Montenegro due to strong identity politics and the country's efforts to have Montenegrin officially recognized internationally.
