DPM Ivanović addresses AFET: Montenegro remains the most advanced candidate and a credible partner on the European path

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović addressed members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament, where he presented Montenegro’s key reform achievements and progress on its path toward full European Union membership.

In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović underscored that Montenegro remains the most advanced EU candidate country, affirming that European integration is both an institutional and political priority, widely supported by Parliament, political stakeholders, and—importantly—by over 80% of the population.

Our commitment to EU integration is not merely rhetorical, but deeply rooted in public consensus and recognized as a strategic direction for our country. The reforms we are implementing are not formalities—they are substantive, especially in the areas of rule of law and institutional functioning, Ivanović stated.

He highlighted significant recent achievements under negotiation Chapters 23 and 24, including the adoption of a constitutional amendment removing the Minister of Justice from the Judicial Council—one of the European Commission’s key recommendations. Additionally, Montenegro has successfully closed three more negotiation chapters.

Discussing foreign policy priorities, Ivanović noted Montenegro’s role as a reliable NATO ally, actively working to strengthen resilience against disinformation and foreign interference through investment in cybersecurity, media literacy, and civic education. In this context, he mentioned the establishment of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre in Podgorica, developed in cooperation with France and Slovenia.

During the session, numerous members of the European Parliament voiced strong support for Montenegro’s reform trajectory, commending the pace and seriousness of its efforts.

Slovenian MEP and European Parliament Rapporteur for Montenegro, Marjan Šarec, praised the country’s reform momentum, attributing it to the political will and responsibility demonstrated by the ruling coalition. He emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue, even amidst political polarization and active opposition, and welcomed Montenegro’s consultations with the Venice Commission on constitutional amendments as a positive example of institutional culture. Šarec also highlighted the need to harmonize the timing of local elections, ensure media pluralism and freedom of expression, and maintain transparency in international agreements, including the one with the United Arab Emirates.

Austrian MEP Reinhold Lopatka expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved and welcomed the overwhelming public support for EU accession. He inquired about challenges in the judiciary and the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations in that sector. Lopatka concluded that Montenegro had made serious progress and stressed that European institutions have a duty to recognize and further support this commitment.

Other participating MEPs—including Michael Gahler (Germany), Nacho Sánchez Amor (Spain), António Tânger Corrêa (Portugal), Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza (Romania), Vladimir Prebilič (Slovenia), Alexander Sell (Germany), Thomas Waitz (Austria), Tsvetelina Penkova (Bulgaria), Željana Zovko (Croatia), Davor Ivo Stier (Croatia), and Tomislav Sokol (Croatia)—provided comments and posed questions. Their messages were predominantly positive, with strong expressions of support for Montenegro's European path, while also emphasizing the importance of continuing reforms in the areas of rule of law, judiciary, media freedom, and transparency within the legislative and institutional framework.

Montenegro does not view EU membership as a reward, but as the natural outcome of a shared vision for a stable, resilient, and integrated Europe. Our goal is clear—to become the 28th member state of the European Union by 2028. I thank you for your support and the trust that we will continue to earn through responsible and consistent action, DPM Ivanović concluded.