The European Union (EU) has officially started the membership negotiation with the Republic of Montenegro. The talks are held to persuade other countries in the Western Balkan that the reforms are paying off. The Montenegrin government submitted an EU membership application on December 15, 2008.

The negotiation might take several years before the country can be an official member of the Union. Also, Montenegro has conducted improvement in the judicial system to curb corruption and organized crime.

In January 2011, some of Montenegro’s senior municipal officials faced accusations of corruption. The former Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, was investigated by the Italian police and faced charges, over one billion US dollars, for a cigarette smuggling operation based in Montenegro in 2009. Montenegro has made additional efforts to further strengthen its anti-corruption by legalizing anticorruption legislation and strategies in governmental anticorruption institutions and agencies to help the government’s effort in fighting it. Also it made efforts in independence, impartiality and efficiency of the judiciary.

According to the official European Commission website, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Füle said, “Montenegro already did a lot. But much more still needs to be done. This next phase of the accession process will mean even more work in more areas, with continued focus on fundamental freedoms, judiciary, fight against corruption and organized crime.”

The EU leaders have approved to begin the talks at the summit on Friday, June 29. The next screening of the Montenegrin progressive would be in September 2013.

Of the former Yugoslav republics, Slovenia, as of 2004, and Croatia, which will be an official member in July 2013, have joined the EU, while the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia are recognized candidates of the EU. Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic and the Kosovo Republic are potential candidates with no submitted membership applications.

Montenegro is a small country that lies on the Adriatic Sea with a population of about 680,000 and an area of 13,812 square kilometers (5,333 square miles). It became an independent state from Serbia in 2006.

The Montenegrin economy is mainly based in tourism and real estate industries. Montenegro has very rich natural and historical tourist destinations in all regions of the country. Also, it has a coast line of 293 kilometers, making more than 120 great beaches in Ulcinj, Bar, Budva, Tivat, Kotor and Herceg Novi municipalities. the Natural and Culture-Historical Region of Kotor and Durmitor National park are two destinations with UNESCO’s world heritage list.

Between 2006 and 2007, Montenegro experienced a real estate industry boom. Most Russian and UK  investors in the country bought properties in the Montenegrin coast. The direct investments in Montenegro made a rapid growth of the economy. The investments in tourism and real estate fields supported the government to meet the requirement of EU membership program.

Montenegro has no national currency, but uses the Euro. Prior to 2002, it used the German Mark as the official currency. Although it was in federation with Serbia between 1992-2003, it stopped using the Serbian Dinar in 1999.

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The 57^th annual Eurovision song contest occurred earlier this month in Baku, Azerbaijan. Like every year, the 2012 competition was a predictably showy camp-fest that featured prominent artists from a host of European countries competing within the realm of song and dance. The elected winner was Swedish songstress Loreen whose capoeira inspired act brought Sweden the honor of hosting the competition next year.

Despite the escapist themes of many Eurovision submissions, however, the event does not take place in a vacuum. This year, the financial crisis of the European economy had a noticeable impact on the purely European song contest.

Rambo Amadeus, the Montenegrin entry and a popular musical satirist, brought the economic situation to the fore with his song “Euro Nero” whose chorus features lyrics such as “give me chance to refinance” and “monetary break dance.” While the middle-aged performer and his symbolic trojan horse did not make it to the final stage of the competition, his witty rapping hinted at some of the considerations that would constitute the majority of the scandal surrounding the show as a whole.

In its preamble to the broadcast of the annual show, the international media doggedly introduced and reintroduced the question of who, should they win, would be fiscally capable of hosting Eurovision next year and whether this would effect the quality of contestants. One of the greatest conspiracy theories leading up to the competition was the rumor that the Spanish contestant, Pastora Soler, had been instructed to lose. The Herald Sun reports that Soler allegedly said “I think it is not the moment, neither for Spain nor for the Spanish public, to win Eurovision.” This claim was later denied by the singer herself.

Many felt that the participation of Eleftheria Eleftheriou for Greece, the country that has perhaps been most affected by the devaluing of the Euro, demonstrated a lack of economic responsibility on the part of the country’s politicians. Others argued that this was a necessary boost to Greek moral. Still others felt that the voting aspect of Eurovision would be used as an opportunity for countries to ally themselves. In particular, many believed that Greece might use Eurovision to influence Germany’s decision to spearhead an economic bailout.

Post-Eurovision, it is clear that the motivation for individual country’s voting was vastly more complicated than had been suspected. While many countries, including Portugal, Spain, Italy and Ireland, did vote along the lines of natural economic and political alliances, both Greece and Germany awarded each other zero points. Far from their original hypotheses of mutual understanding expressed through song approval, theorists now view the peculiar voting habits of this pair of countries as a kind of complicit revenge tactic or, as Charles Robinson explains in the Wall Street Journal, a form of “protest”.

Fortunately, Sweden, the eventual winner, appears to be fully capable of hosting Eurovision 2013 and has managed to escape relatively unscathed from the political furore that has surrounded some of its compatriot countries. What social changes might occur between then and now to reshape the complexion of this contest remains to be seen.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.eurovision.tv

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If you are looking for a holiday on sandy beaches and with diverse nightlife, one the best examples of Mediterranean culture and architecture would be Budva,Montenegro. Budva is located in the central part of Montenegrin coast on the Adriatic Sea, which is called “Budvanska Rivijera.”

Budva has 35 Sandy beaches; Mogren is the most famous beach in the town. Other beaches within official city boundaries include Ričardova glava (Richard’s Head), Pizana, Slovenska plaža (Slavic Beach). Many other beaches are located just outside of Budva in smaller adjacent towns and villages such as Bečići, Jaz, Trsteno, Maestral, Miločer, Sveti Stefan, Pržno, Kamenovo, Ploče, Crvena Glavica, Drobni Pijesak, Kraljičina plaža, and Kraljeva plaža.

During the summer season, the day and nightlife offers opportunities to enjoy musical plays and performances, events, and entertainment programs. Many nightclubs use go-go dancers to attract those looking to go to the club. Families might be offended by the open display of almost naked girls in the street. There is one main street, the main walkway, where all the action happens.

Buddva also more attractions than just beaches and clubs; it would be worth it to visit Stari Grad (Old Town) in the city to see Budva Citadel and ancient churches.

Budva Old town

The old town of Budva lies on a little island that was linked to the land by a sandbank. In time, it turned into a peninsula. It is surrounded by ramparts originating from the 15th century including a medieval fortification system with city gates, defense walls, and towers. The Old Town consists of narrow streets, alleyways, and small squares with precious monuments of different Mediterranean cultures that have marked the development of this town. Tourists can enter in Old Town from one of five entrance gates.

Walking is the superlative way to sightsee in Budva. The most interesting places in Old Town are hidden in its narrow streets, alleys, squares, and city walls. Walking is the best way to reach the beaches, too. Besides, public transportation does not exist in the town. Among the most well-known cultural and historical monuments are the Church of St. John, which was built in the seventh century, and the Church of Santa Maria in Punta from 840.

Visitors also go to the Holy Trinity Church, built in 1804. North from Budva is the Stanjevići monastery, built in 1798. The most important and most frequently mentioned monastery is situated above the town-hotel St.Stefan; it’s composed of three churches in which there are some frescoes from the seventeenth century.

The monastery Rezevici between St.Stefan and Petrovac, whose architecture dates back to the 13th century, are very luxurious. Sveti Stefan is an attractive blend of ancient and deluxe environment, and represents the most luxurious resort in Montenegro. Other big attraction of the Riviera is the Sveti Nikola Island (island of Saint Nicola). You can get to it by water taxi.

This place is known as a natural deer reserve, and it is also a reserve for several other animal species. Tivat airport is the closest international airport to Budva. However, tourists can use Podgorica International Airport, the airport in the capital of Montenegro, then reach Budva by land transportations.

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