The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee addressed on 10 February some issues concerning the situation of both Turkey and Montenegro in their respective relations to the Union, and voted two resolutions . MEPs voted on a resolution welcoming Montenegro's candidate status, while also pointing out some issues which still remain to be addressed. Some of these issues, especially those related to media freedom, are also matter of concern for MEPs regarding Turkey's situation.

While welcoming Montenegro's candidate country status confirmed in December 2010, and its  progress made in passing important legislation to fight corruption, MEPs underlined in their draft resolution that it is still a prevalent behaviour in many areas, especially in the construction, privatisation and public procurements sector. MEPs called on government to improve the track record of investigations on and prosecutions on corruption, and to change the legislative framework. Furthermore, organised crime, and above all, money laundering and smuggling, are still important issues in Montenegro which would require more international cooperation to combat them.

MEPs also welcomed Turkey's adoption of constitutional amendments in 2010 as a step in the right direction, but stressed that this cannot be the final solution, and that an overall constitutional reform is still needed to transform Turkey into a real democracy that ensures the protection of basic rights and freedoms.

Media freedom and gender equality are common concerns

European Parliament concerns are also related to gender equality, as the EP Foreign Affairs Committee pointed out that in Montenegro women are still under-represented in decision-making processes, as well as in leading positions both in public administration and management boards of private companies. Regarding Turkey, the situation of women and rising rates of honour killings and forced marriages are still important challenges to be overcome. In their resolution abput Turkey, MEPs highlight that the government must ensure the application of the law which obliges municipalities of over 50,000 inhabitants to provide shelters for women and minors in danger and political parties must also find a solution to the headscarf ban in universities.

Media independence is also one of the main problems which still remain both in Montenegro and Turkey. Practices such as disproportionate fines which can be impose on journalists in Montenegro, as well as some cases of intimidation against journalists and civil society activists which have been reported are still important concern for the European Parliament.

The worrying deterioration of press freedom in Turkey, which is leading to self-censorship of national media and internet sites, as well as criminal prosecution of journalists denouncing human rights violations remains one key challenge underlines by MEPs in their resolution on the 2010 progress report on Turkey.