The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, met today with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who arrived for an official visit to the country following meetings in Tirana.
The meeting took place at a symbolic spot on Mount Lovćen, reached by cable car from Kotor, conveying that Montenegro, a mix of maritime and mountain heritage, tradition and modern progress, is approaching the final phase of its European path.
The topics of discussion included reforms bringing Montenegro closer to European Union membership, strengthening institutions, the rule of law, the fight against corruption, the development of a stable economy, and the protection of human rights.
President Milatović reminded that at the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen, he launched an initiative to draft Montenegro’s Accession Treaty to the European Union, as proof of the country’s readiness to complete the task it had begun.
“It is time to finish the job. It is time for Montenegro to be a strong and European state. By initiating the drafting of the Accession Treaty, we would send a clear message that our European ambitions are confirmed by deeds, not words,” said Milatović.
He emphasised that Montenegro’s goal is to complete negotiations with the EU by 2026 and to become the next member state by 2028. “Through Montenegro’s example, the enlargement policy will once again prove to be the EU’s most successful policy - one that rewards effort, reform, and results,” he added, as reported by Dan daily.
Speaking about the benefits of reforms, the President stated that every reform must have a
measurable impact on citizens’ lives - justice delivered within a reasonable time, stable prices, secure salaries, new jobs, and less bureaucracy.
“Europe is neither an abstract idea nor a slogan - it means higher wages, better roads, hospitals where people are treated with dignity, schools that prepare children for the future, and a state where work and honesty pay off. The EU is a daily collective effort, in every job and every sector. It means institutions working for citizens, an economy that grows, justice that functions, and results that speak for themselves. That is how a European Montenegro is built,” said Milatović.
The President expressed satisfaction that Montenegro will host the EU-Western Balkans Summit in 2026, the same year it marks the 20th anniversary of the restoration of its independence. He announced that this will be an opportunity to show that reform, responsibility, and hard work yield results - that Montenegro is becoming a modern, functional, and European state.
(Eupravo zato.rs)