Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro’s European path must remain the shared objective of all political actors, because this is the only way the country can seize the opportunity to become the next EU member, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic said, adding that the seriousness of the agreement between the government and the opposition will be demonstrated by meeting agreed obligations and deadlines.

 

In an interview with the MINA News Agency marking July 13, the Statehood Day of Montenegro, Milatovic said that the country has a historic opportunity that must not be missed.

 

Asked how important the agreement between the government and part of the opposition is for the continuation of Montenegro’s EU path, Milatovic said that any agreement that advances European reforms should be welcomed, noting that the country has already wasted too much time on issues that should have been the subject of broad social and political consensus.

 

“I continuously call on all political actors to refocus on issues of national interest – the reform of electoral legislation, the election of Constitutional Court judges, constitutional amendments, more efficient institutions and strengthening the judiciary”, said Milatovic.

 

It is important, as he pointed out, for reforms to be of high quality, sustainable and fully aligned with the Constitution and European standards.

 

“I also expect that, through further work, we will address the deficiencies in the laws regulating the police and the National Security Agency, which I previously returned to Parliament for reconsideration, citing clear and legally justified reasons”, Milatovic added.

 

Asked whether the agreement between the government and the opposition is a guarantee that the European agenda will not be blocked by internal political disputes, he replied that a political agreement can be an important step forward, but that it is not a guarantee in itself.

 

Asked whether he expects increased polarization and political calculations during the campaign for the next parliamentary elections and whether this could slow down or jeopardize Montenegro’s European agenda, Milatovic pointed out that EU membership must remain a shared national objective, above daily politics and election campaigns.

 

He said that the election campaign will naturally bring political disagreements and sharper rhetoric, but that this must not undermine the implementation of obligations from the European agenda or slow down the reforms essential for the quality of life of citizens and the future of the country depend.

 

When asked whether Montenegro can close all remaining negotiation chapters by the end of 2026, given the pace of reforms since the beginning of the year, Milatovic replied that he considers it an achievable goal, “if all political actors remain consistently committed to the European agenda”.

 

“No institution in Brussels can pass laws for us that comply with European standards, elect Constitutional Court judges, develop high-quality electoral legislation and institutions, improve the work of the judiciary or amend the Constitution. We have to do that ourselves”, said the President of Montenegro.

 

Asked to comment on the delays in the election of judges of the Constitutional Court, Milatovic said that the failure to fill vacant positions remains a serious problem for the functioning of the rule of law and the European path of Montenegro.

 

“Everyone knows whose responsibility this is and who has failed to complete this important work for more than a year. I fulfilled my part of the constitutional obligations in a timely, transparent and responsible manner”, said Milatovic.