Ivanović: European commitment must be demonstrated through concrete action

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović stated that European integration must remain a shared national priority for all political actors, emphasizing that commitment to the European path should be demonstrated through concrete results and responsible political action, rather than merely declarative support.

In an interview with Euronews, Ivanović noted that political disagreements between the government and the opposition are a natural part of democratic life, but should not become an obstacle to achieving the country's strategic objectives.

What should be expected is a sense of responsibility and seriousness, allowing day-to-day political issues to remain within the sphere of political competition, while matters of strategic importance to the country are elevated above party interests. Commitment to Europe must be demonstrated through actions, not merely through words, Ivanović said.

Commenting on the platform presented by a segment of the opposition, the Deputy Prime Minister assessed that the demands contained in the document go beyond constitutional amendments and European integration, opening a number of political issues that are not directly related to obligations stemming from the European agenda.

If the demands contained in that platform are carefully analysed, it can be concluded that part of the opposition seeks to become part of the government before elections and outside the electoral process, Ivanović said.

He stressed that all political issues can and should be discussed within the institutions of the system, primarily in the Parliament of Montenegro and its working bodies, noting that clearly defined democratic mechanisms already exist for that purpose.

Issues related to electoral legislation, institutional reforms and other political matters should be addressed through existing institutional frameworks. I see no need for additional platforms when there is already a broadly accepted political consensus regarding the European agenda, Ivanović said.

He recalled that almost all parliamentary parties had endorsed the Barometer 26 initiative and the Resolution on European Integration, assessing that these documents provide a solid foundation for joint action by all political stakeholders on Montenegro’s path towards membership in the European Union.

Speaking about the accession process, Ivanović said that Montenegro continues to make progress in fulfilling its obligations under the European agenda and expects the planned pace of closing negotiating chapters to continue.

There is no reason for concern regarding the next steps in the negotiation process. Certain adjustments to timelines are not politically motivated, but rather technical in nature. What matters most is that Montenegro continues to fulfil its obligations and deliver results recognised by our European partners, he said.

Ivanović emphasized that the Government remains fully committed to implementing reforms and meeting the closing benchmarks in the negotiating chapters, expressing confidence that Montenegro has a realistic opportunity to become the next member state of the European Union.

Our objective is clear – to successfully conclude the accession negotiations and make Montenegro a full member of the European Union. This requires responsibility, political maturity and the joint efforts of all stakeholders in society. I believe that Montenegro’s European future is an interest about which there should be no doubt, Ivanović concluded.

The full interview is available at: https://youtu.be/C7cPzu8XqkY?si=xjjZlqBcW5Bo2ViX.