Podgorica, (MINA) – Members of the Montenegrin Parliament adopted on Tuesday the Draft Resolution on Montenegro’s EU Integration, which, according to the Parliament’s press release, expresses commitment to citizens’ interests and clearly affirms that the EU path is the best direction for development.

A total of 53 MPs voted in favor of the resolution, while there were no abstentions.

Democratic Party of Socialists MP and chair of the European Integration Committee Ivan Vukovic, speaking about the Draft Resolution, said that Montenegro’s EU accession represents the most important strategic task and objective of national policy.

According to the Resolution, the Parliament has one of the key roles in the integration process and should make a full contribution to “coordinated institutional action with the Government and the President of Montenegro, in the interest of completing EU accession negotiations by the end of 2026”.

Vukovic added that the Parliament should also enhance cooperation with civil society organizations and the media, in order to strengthen the social consensus regarding the European integration.

Jovan Subotic, MP of the Europe Now Movement, said that the Resolution is an expression of commitment to the interests of the citizens of Montenegro and affirms that the EU path is the best direction for development.

New Serbian Democracy MP Jovan Vucurovic said that the Draft Resolution is a symbolic document in the integration process and demonstrates a certain degree of unity among the MPs.

Milos Konatar, MP of the Civic Movement URA, said that belonging to Europe must be proven in action, not just declaratively, as is often the case in Montenegrin parliament.

Democrat MP Momcilo Lekovic said that the EU path is not an administrative formality, and added that if Montenegro wants to close all chapters, it must also “close the chapter of crime”.

“Friday will be the test for all of us. Through these laws that strengthen and clean up institutions and create a presumption for joining the EU, nothing can stand in our way, we will kick the mafia out of the institutions. Without these laws on ANB and internal affairs, there will be no joining the EU. We will not allow corrupt police officers to remain in the service”, said Lekovic.

Democratic People’s Party MP Vladislav Bojovic said that Montenegro must resolve the key challenges before joining the EU.  

“We cannot join the EU by maintaining divisions and unresolved issues. We can enter the EU as a reconciled society if the issues of the status of the Serbian language, the historical tricolor flag, the dual citizenship are resolved and if we deliver better results in the fight against crime and corruption”, Bojovic said.

Bosniak Party MP Amer Smailovic said that since 2006 Montenegro has defined its foreign policy goals and that not deviated from the set course.

Social Democrat MP Boris Mugosa said that EU integration is more than passing legislation.

“EU integration is not the hasty adoption of numerous laws, but the application of those laws and the improvement of standards. In Montenegro, the problem is substance, not form”, said Mugosa.