Disagreements between the government and the opposition are part of the democratic process, but the awareness of the historic opportunity presented to Montenegro should overshadow all political games, short-term, particular, political, and party interests, said Montenegro’s Chief Negotiator with the European Union, Predrag Zenović, in an interview for Dan.
-“It is crucial that European integration remains a shared priority and that a stable and predictable negotiating dynamic is ensured through constructive political dialogue. In this regard, European partners continually emphasize the importance of political maturity and an inclusive approach to ensure that the reform process remains sustainable and credible,” Zenović said, among other things
- As Montenegro’s Chief Negotiator for EU Accession, when looking at the planned activities and goals for this year, what do you see as the biggest challenge in the accession process?
– After the most successful year of Montenegro’s European integration process, with three intergovernmental conferences, the obtaining of the IBAR, the best report on Montenegro’s progress from the European Commission, membership in SEPA, and the closure of three negotiation chapters at the end of last year, Montenegro must maintain its level of work, ambition, and commitment this year. We are entering a crucial phase of the negotiation process and continuing our intensive work on closing negotiation chapters this year, with a special focus on the rule of law and tangible results in the fight against organized crime and corruption.
However, even though there is political will to accelerate the European path, challenges in the legislative process remain a reality. Disagreements among political actors in the Assembly, which surfaced in the first months of the year, reflected on the dynamics of adopting reform laws, including those key for closing chapters and drawing funds from the Growth Plan. Therefore, a stable political and social consensus is essential for maintaining the credibility of the negotiation process and fulfilling the planned obligations.
In addition to challenges in the rule of law area, it is necessary to align the legal framework regarding constitutional amendments on the role of the Minister of Justice in the Judicial Council, as well as to reform the laws on financing political parties and election campaigns, ensuring broad support from all political actors. These reforms, already integrated into Montenegro’s Reform Agenda, are crucial not only for further progress in negotiations but also for accessing significant EU financial resources.
We also face the challenge of meeting requirements in areas such as environmental protection, energy, food security, and phytosanitary policies, which require significant infrastructure and administrative improvements. These reforms will require energy, knowledge, and financial resources – resources from the Growth Plan, whose operational application is in its final stages, will be crucial for strengthening institutional and administrative capacities, as well as the gradual convergence of Montenegro’s economy, with the goal of making Montenegro better prepared for EU membership and its market, law, and rules.
In this demanding process, we rely on the expertise and dedication of our negotiating teams, aware that investment in human resources and administrative capacities is key to the effective continuation of reforms. Every success on the European path is the result of dedicated work and the vision that Montenegro will soon become a full EU member, with a stronger economy, modernized infrastructure, and standards that guarantee a higher quality of life for all citizens.
- From this perspective (considering internal political difficulties), does it seem even more ambitious to plan that Montenegro will become an EU member by 2028?
– The plan for Montenegro to become a full member of the European Union by 2028 remains an ambitious but realistic goal, with the prerequisite that the reform process continues with the same intensity and that all political actors remain dedicated to the European agenda. We do not have the luxury of slowing down the process, losing focus, or delaying commitments. The enlargement policy is once again high on the EU agenda, but the process remains merit-based, meaning that without meeting the criteria and closing chapters, it is not possible to move forward. Geopolitics, it is a fact, has opened the doors to EU membership, but we must cross that threshold ourselves.
It is crucial that European integration remains a shared priority and that a stable and predictable negotiating dynamic is ensured through constructive political dialogue. In this regard, European partners continually emphasize the importance of political maturity and an inclusive approach to ensure that the reform process remains sustainable and credible.
The European Union does not only value the formal alignment of legislation, but also the tangible results of reforms that must be visible in practice. This includes an efficient and independent judiciary, decisive measures in the fight against corruption, strengthening democratic institutions, and a functional institutional framework that guarantees long-term stability. These aspects will be crucial in the final stages of negotiations and will define the climate from the Netherlands and France to Estonia and Poland – the final decision on whether Montenegro will become part of the European family by 2028.
Ministry of Finance Submits Official Request to EC for Payment of €26.85 Million
- Montenegro should soon receive the first part of the funds from the Growth Plan. When can this be expected, and is there anything that might affect the delay in the payment of these funds?
– Montenegro is in the final stages of preparations to receive the first part of financial support from the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which is a significant mechanism for supporting economic development and implementing reforms. In accordance with the European Commission’s guidelines, Montenegro will initially receive pre-financing of €26.85 million, which represents 7% of the total available funds. These funds are disbursed as a fixed amount and are not dependent on the implementation of reform measures from the Reform Agenda.
The Ministry of Finance has already submitted an official request to the European Commission for the payment of this amount, of which €14.3 million will be allocated for co-financing three infrastructure projects in the energy sector, within the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
The key prerequisite for the payment of pre-financing is the signing, ratification, and entry into force of the Agreement on Accession to the Reform and Growth Instrument and the Loan Agreement between Montenegro and the European Commission, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Finance. The Assembly of Montenegro adopted the Law on Ratification of the Accession Agreement on February 21, 2025, fulfilling one of the key steps toward the formal operationalization of the Growth Plan.
All subsequent regular semi-annual tranches will be conditioned on the successful implementation of reform measures defined by the Reform Agenda. Therefore, it is crucial that Montenegro continues to consistently fulfill its commitments in order to secure financial support that contributes to achieving strategic development goals on the European path.
- Considering the current political situation, can this affect Montenegro’s European path and the perception of the European community about the stability of our political scene? And can disagreements between the parliamentary government and the opposition undermine the closure of the planned chapters, specifically this year?
– The European Union closely monitors not only the technical aspect of meeting obligations but also the political stability and functionality of institutions. In this regard, it is essential that political dialogue remains within democratic standards and that there is awareness that the reform process must not be held hostage by political differences. The key tasks at this stage of the negotiations relate to adopting and implementing legislation, which requires a constructive approach from all actors in political life.
Montenegro is in a sensitive but decisive phase of European integration, where political dynamics may have an impact on the pace of negotiations but should not jeopardize the strategic direction of the country. The negotiation process is one of the key historical chapters of Montenegro, and EU membership will be the most important achievement of this decade. It is a pledge for the future, in a time of uncertainty and change on the international stage. In this time of uncertainty, unity and solidarity based on the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity represent the framework for economic prosperity, security alliances, and the continuous improvement of the rule of law. Disagreements between the government and the opposition are part of the democratic process, but the awareness of the historic opportunity presented to Montenegro should overshadow all political games, short-term, particular, political, and party interests.