Podgorica, (MINA) – The Western Balkan region has found itself at the crossroads when it needs to either join the European Union or continue to stumble under the burden of inter-ethnic conflicts and low living standards, as a time-bomb that poses a threat to European security, President Milo Djukanovic has stated.
In his address at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, he noted that Montenegro understands the need of the EU to eliminate the causes of its current crises and carry out the process of internal consolidation.
“But we don’t think that the answer to those problems lies in suspending or significantly slowing down the visionary project of European unity. On the contrary, I believe that full unity is the most important part of the answer to all the problems affecting the EU today,” Djukanovic remarked.
According to him, Montenegro is not blind to the numerous weaknesses in the EU’s architecture.
“But we will not accept the lethargic attitude that suggests that we should give up on our vision. Therefore, I believe that it is necessary to reinforce the vision and improve the architecture. That is a course that is bringing the strongest guarantees that Europe will preserve its global competitiveness,” the President noted.
He said that if the EU should miss another opportunity to integrate the Western Balkans that would carry a big risk of political interference from third parties which do not have the same strategic goals as the EU, which would leave the region in a conflict zone, undermining the stability and unity in the European continent.
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