Skopje, (MINA) – Montenegro must use the EU accession process as a strong foreign policy stronghold for implementing key reforms and strengthening democratic institutions, in order to join the EU as a fully prepared and credible member, said President Jakov Milatovic.

Milatovic is on an official visit to North Macedonia, where he also spoke at the Faculty of Law of the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, together with President of the country Gordana Siljanovska Davkova.

He said that Montenegro’s path to the EU is often seen as an exclusively national goal.

“However, it is equally important to understand that this process carries broader regional and even geopolitical significance”, Milatovic pointed out.

He said that the pace of reforms alone does not always dictate the EU accession process and listed four potential scenarios that countries may face on their way to the EU.

As the first scenario, Mialtovic stated that the candidate country fails to use the EU accession process for democratic or institutional progress, and as a result, the EU does not recognize it.

He said that in the second scenario, the candidate uses the accession process productively, building institutions and improving democratic standards, but is still not accepted by the EU.

“History has shown that this scenario often leads to democratic regression. Here, both sides end up losing in the long term”, said Milatovic, emphasizing that North Macedonia is a good example of this scenario.

Speaking about the third scenario, Milatovic said that in that case the candidate country shows insufficient democratic progress, but the EU recognizes it anyway based solely on geopolitical reasons, adding that in that case, in the long run, both the EU and the country suffer.

He said that he considers the fourth scenario to be the most suitable for Montenegro and all candidate countries.

“In this situation, both sides are doing their part. The candidate country is using the accession process to achieve genuine democratic progress and build strong institutions, while depoliticizing public administration, enabling a free media environment and focusing on sustainable economic development, and then it is welcomed into the EU. This is the ideal outcome, one that ensures joint growth, resilience and stability. I believe that this scenario is what we should all strive for”, said Milatovic.

Siljanovska Davkova stressed that the region’s EU integration is a logical and politically natural choice, noting that the countries of the former Yugoslavia have always been part of Europe geographically, historically and culturally.

She pointed out that many countries joined the EU for political rather than economic reasons, adding that today the enlargement represents a strategic, geopolitical necessity for the unification of Europe.

Speaking about the importance of the region, Siljanovska Davkova pointed out that the Montenegro’s progress would be very important because it puts an end to dilemmas and confirms that enlargement is becoming a reality.

Siljanovska Davkova said that Bulgaria is hindering Macedonia’s progress towards the EU due to demands related to the recognition of the Bulgarian minority in the Constitution, stressing that the country has already made numerous concessions.