The goal of Montenegro joining the European Union is truly within reach. This is the moment to accelerate and intensify efforts on that path to the maximum. With reforms in the area of the rule of law and transparency in public procurement, you will send a clear signal that Montenegro is serious in its intentions and that it is a serious and credible place for business development - said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, opening the first investment conference of Montenegro and the EU this morning in the tourist resort of Luštica Bay near Tivat.
The conference dedicated to smart and sustainable economic development brought together numerous representatives of politics, economics, finance and the environmental protection sector from Montenegro and Europe, and presented four concrete new European investment projects in the Montenegrin economy and ten new memoranda of understanding in various areas of economy and finance.
The EC President praised the reform policy and results achieved by the Government of Montenegro so far and emphasized that our country offers a wealth of attractive investment opportunities in various areas.
"Montenegro has incredible potential, but investments in its economy have not yet reached that potential. That is why I would like to tell those interested not to wait for the moment of Montenegro's formal entry into the EU, but to seize the opportunity now, because otherwise someone will overtake you," von der Leyen emphasized.
She emphasized that "you in Montenegro are committed to joining the EU, you are ambitious, and we love that and that is why we will support you."
Von der Leyen said that Montenegro offers great opportunities to investors in the areas of sustainable tourism, transport and logistics, renewable energy and digitalization.
Spajić: Montenegro is geographically small, but big in the opportunities it offers
Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajić said that the EU is the largest and most important strategic partner of our country and the largest investor in Montenegro.
"Montenegro is geographically small, but it is big in the opportunities it offers. There are no dominant ethnic groups in our country, which has taught us for centuries about mutual respect, tolerance and understanding. Our differences are not a limitation, but our comparative advantage, and in that sense, Montenegro is already in the EU symbolically and in its way of thinking. Today, we are opening a new chapter here in strengthening our economic ties with the EU," said Spajić.
He pointed out that more than three billion euros in total value of various infrastructure and economic projects are currently being implemented in Montenegro and that our country already meets the Maastricht criteria for EU membership.
"Montenegro is on the verge of joining the EU. By the end of 2026, we will close all negotiation chapters, in order to become a member of the Union by the end of 2028," said Spajić, emphasizing that Montenegro's accession is an ideal opportunity for the EU to demonstrate in practice that "the most successful EU policy - enlargement, is not a thing of the past, but is very much alive and current."
Von der Leyen: I like "28th member by the end of 2028"
At a press conference after the opening of the conference, the President of the European Commission said that she "really likes the '28th member by the end of 2028' for Montenegro."
She pointed out that four negotiation chapters have been closed in the past year and that she expects five more to be closed by the end of this year.
She emphasized that it is very important to maintain consensus in Montenegro on the need for the country to join the EU, and that the Union greatly appreciates Montenegro's alignment with the Union's foreign and security policy, especially in relations with Russia.
Announced the abolition of roaming
She stressed that it is important for Montenegro to continue with reforms, as this is the best way to quickly access the funds that the EU has foreseen for it in its "Growth Plan for the Western Balkans".
"Montenegro will now receive eight million euros, because it has met the conditions for it, but reforms need to continue in order to achieve the conditions for using the entire fund of 380 million planned for Montenegro," said Von der Leyen.
She praised Montenegro's entry into the SEPA payment system and announced the abolition of roaming with EU countries in 2026.
"We do not comment on ongoing investigations, media freedom is important to the EU"
The EC President avoided directly answering Antena M's question "how the EU will make it known to the Montenegrin authorities that it will not allow the freedom of critical and independent media in Montenegro, which are under attack by the Special State Prosecutor's Office, to be jeopardized."
"The EU never comments on ongoing criminal investigations - neither within member states nor in candidate countries. On the other hand, media freedom is one of the cornerstones of the rule of law and European values in general. We are following everything that is happening around this and we make it clear to our interlocutors that media freedom is very important to the EU," von der Leyen stressed.
Agree that it is necessary to complete the Constitutional Court
She pointed out that she also discussed with her hosts in Montenegro the need to complete the composition of the Constitutional Court by electing four new judges, because "this should and can strengthen your democracy."
She stressed that it is important that in this regard "the recommendations of the Venice Commission be implemented without delay."
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić also agreed with the need to complete the composition of the Constitutional Court, calling on MPs to vote for new judges as soon as possible and that in that process "everyone should keep in mind the European perspective of Montenegro, not individual political interests."
He said that it is less important when Montenegro will close individual chapters, but that work is constantly being done on all the remaining ones with the aim of closing them all by the end of 2026.
Spajić: Foreign policy clear
When asked to comment on the statement of President Jakov Milatović that Montenegro is pursuing a "schizophrenic policy" in relations with Croatia, Spajić said that Montenegrin foreign policy is "very clear and in unison, because we are all together for European integration, which brings us all together."
"I would not rule out the possibility that these (schizophrenic policies - ed.) exist in some other institutions," Spajić concluded.
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