Montenegro EU membership is a strategic national interest that requires faster reforms and stronger political commitment, President Jakov Milatović said. He urged the government, parliament and all political actors to place the European agenda above daily political disputes.
Milatović said Montenegro is closer to joining the European Union than ever before. He called for quicker implementation of reforms, completion of negotiating chapters and fulfillment of the country’s remaining obligations.
Montenegro and Iceland Face Different Choices
Milatović said Icelanders’ decision not to continue EU membership negotiations should be respected. Every country has the right to choose its own path and determine its future, he added.
Iceland is already deeply integrated into European structures through its membership in the European Economic Area and participation in the Schengen Area. Its institutions and society also operate according to high European standards despite the country remaining outside the EU.
Montenegro, however, is in a different position. It is an EU candidate conducting accession negotiations, with full membership identified as a strategic objective.
Reforms Could Open the Door by 2028
The path toward Montenegro EU membership requires stronger rule of law, independent institutions and the ability to fully implement European standards and regulations, Milatović said.
Full membership would also bring economic and development benefits. These include access to the EU single market, European programs and funds, as well as new opportunities for businesses, citizens and more balanced national development.
Milatović said EU accession is not only a foreign policy matter. It also concerns institutional quality, legal certainty, economic opportunities and citizens’ living standards.
He described membership as a choice to build a society in which European standards become part of everyday life.
Milatović urged political leaders not to waste the current opportunity, stressing that accession is not the project of one party, government or political generation. He said much now depends on Montenegro’s willingness to accept responsibility and complete the necessary reforms.
The president said those efforts could allow Montenegro to become an EU member by 2028.
