The goal of Montenegro joining the EU by 2026 is ambitious, but achievable. The President of the country, Jakov Milatović, called on all political and social actors to give their full contribution and gather around the civic and European center.
He pointed out that it is "an idea that is bigger than any individual or party", which is why he announced that after returning from an official visit to Brussels, where he stayed this week, he would invite Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to a dialogue. Spajić is pleased with Milatović's "constructive signals" and claims that he is ready to cooperate with all institutions, even with the president who, as he said, "has nothing to do with European integration".
When asked to comment on claims that Western partners initiated a dialogue between him and Milatović due to the weakening of the centrist bloc in Montenegro, Spajić said that he had not discussed it with foreign partners: "Maybe it's Milatović, so ask him."
Spajić and Milatović took over key functions in the state last year, but at the beginning of this year they ended their cooperation after Milatović left PES. Since then, they have been in conflict with their statements, but also in the political field, which can be seen in the local elections in Montenegro.
"The relationship between Spajić and Milatović has collapsed too much on a personal level to be functional," says political analyst Nikoleta Đukanović for Deutsche Welle (DW).
"It is obvious that the embassies of Western countries have enough influence to establish a dialogue between them, but the influence of other countries on the members of the Government, and indirectly on the Prime Minister, is more obvious, which further complicates their relationship", added Đukanović, alluding to the influence of Serbia on the members of the Government from the ranks of the former Democratic Front.
Questionable fate of Spajić's call for unity?
Before Milatović announced that he would invite Spajić for a conversation, the Prime Minister presented "Barometar 26" - a platform by which key political actors would commit themselves to making Montenegro's European future "a priority above priorities".
The document adopted by the government lists four "basic principles", and the signatories undertake to promote a "political atmosphere of dialogue, cooperation and compromise", to resolve "polarizing issues", such as identity issues, through working groups, and to promote regional cooperation.
Spajić discussed "Barometer 26" with part of the ruling majority - the Europe Now Movement, Democratic Montenegro, the Socialist People's Party, the Albanian Forum and the Albanian Alliance.
President Milatović said that he welcomes the document if it implies "a change in the behavior of certain constituents of the government", but he added that the government should first sign the platform with itself because "the executive power is the most responsible for negative trends" such as "non-transparency in the adoption of legal solutions, damage to relations with Croatia".
The Government has not announced whether and when the platform will be offered to the parties for signature.
What does DPS say?
The strongest opposition party, DPS, did not attend the consultations, judging that a part of the parliamentary majority consists of entities that are "essentially against European values", and from the positions of the authorities, they are working against membership.
They see the platform as an attempt to stabilize the "delegitimized Government of Spajić", as well as another maneuver by which the head of parliament and leader of the New Serbian Democracy Andrija Mandić would present himself as a European factor on the political scene of Montenegro.
On the other hand, the editor of the weekly Monitor, Milena Perović, points out that it is high time that the political classes in Montenegro, regardless of differences, gather around a goal that is supported by about 80% of citizens.
"If the majority in the parliament is 'European', I don't see why they wouldn't gather around any document that calls for a European future, regardless of the fact that the minority violates it. This would show that the political classes are ready to subordinate the public interest to narrow-party ", emphasizes Perović.
"Barometer 26" – a disposable platform or a serious document?
Political analyst Nikoleta Đukanović sees the platform as a "well-made document" that does not have the potential to resolve key issues in the EU accession process. This, she says, can only be done by responsible politicians and democratic political parties, which "unfortunately, there are none" in Montenegro.
With such "moratoriums", Đukanović adds, the parties can put aside their priorities in the short term, e.g. identity issues, but "one document, like the Barometer, cannot resolve their disagreements, much less Europeanize the parties and make them credible bearers of the European process", Đukanović concludes.
Spajić's government hopes to be able to close four chapters in negotiations with the EU by the end of the year. However, this remains uncertain due to the position of Croatia, which made a series of demands to Montenegro in a non-paper sent this week. The European path of Montenegro thus remains thorny, and "Barometer 26" is another in a series of platforms intended for mainly domestic political use.
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