Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro’s EU membership iis not a goal, but a way for Montenegrin society to start living in accordance with the standards of the most developed community in the world, it was assessed at the digital conference “20 years of independence: from May to May”, organized by the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT).

 

Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorcevic said that there are clearly defined obligations on the European path.

 

“For our own sake, we need to be the best possible in this process. Closing a chapter is the first step, after that there is a lot of work. Sometimes we hear – you are doing this because of Brussels, but no, Brussels showed us what we have to do in order to become the next EU member state, but we have to do it for ourselves”, Gorcevic said.

 

She pointed out that reforms cannot happen overnight, but that citizens and the economy will see the benefits gradually.

 

“We are already seeing certain benefits that may need to be further communicated”, Gorcevic added.

 

Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Andrija Nikolic said that the commitment of that party and the state leadership at the time was for the EU to become the ultimate starting point for Montenegro.

 

He added that during the DPS government, the integration process was successful, but that more could have been done.

 

“There was administrative inefficiency in meeting the criteria set at the time for the Montenegrin administration, together with geopolitical reasons and significant resistance from the opposition at the time, but nevertheless the results were decent because the country opened all chapters, but more could have been done, there is no dilemma”, said Nikolic.

 

CDT program director Milica Kovacevic said that both DPS-led and the current government have used EU integration as a key argument in election campaigns and political communication because it is something that the citizens support. 

 

“If we look back today, we are a better society than we were in 2006”, Kovacevic said.

 

According to her, Montenegro has established institutions, improved its international position and achieved growth, but that is not enough for the citizens.

 

When asked whether Croatia could use the EU as an excuse to condition Montenegro over to unresolved issues, Nikolic replied that all responsibility for relations with Croatia lies with the current government.

 

Speaking about relations with Croatia, Kovacevic said that, in addition to the narrative of good neighborly relations, friendship and understanding, Croatia’s official foreign policy is Montenegro in the EU.