If political leaders are truly committed to national unity and Montenegro's European future, then inciting divisive and polarizing issues, resorting to historical revisionism, or exploiting painful chapters from the past for political purposes is incompatible with those goals.
This was told to "Vijesti" by the head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Montenegro. Johan Sattler, answering the question of whether he finds the recent statement of the head of parliament objectionable Andrija Madnić (New Serbian Democracy) not to oppose the opinions of the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Joanikia and Budimljansko-Nikšić The method regarding their affirmative statements about the Chetnik commanders Pavlo Đurišić i Dear Draža Mihailović.
Sattler, in an interview conducted via email, stated that the recommendations from the Venice Commission's opinion on the case of the former Constitutional Court judge Dragan Đuranović clear, and that the government and the opposition have committed to fulfilling them, and that it is encouraging to reach an agreement on holding the elections in one day.
"That would be a major step forward, allowing Montenegro to fully focus on EU-related reforms and move decisively towards closing accession negotiations by the end of next year," he said.
Have you discussed with representatives of the government and the opposition the implementation of the Venice Commission's opinion on the case of former Constitutional Court judge Dragana Đuranović? If so, what did you agree with them? If not, when do you plan to do so?
I am in regular contact with both the Government and the opposition on key rule of law issues. Decisions such as implementing the recommendations of the Venice Commission are a shared responsibility, and both sides have committed to fulfilling them.
But it is not just about the recommendations of the Venice Commission. For Montenegro to meet its goal and seize the historic opportunity to conclude EU accession negotiations by the end of 2026, the political focus must shift to concrete steps in the Parliament. This means adopting all the European laws necessary to close the remaining chapters, completing electoral reform - including an agreement to hold all local elections on one day, and securing broad political support for the election of Constitutional Court judges.
What, in your opinion, should be done specifically to fully implement the opinion of the "Venetians"? Given that the Venice Commission indicated that the procedure was violated in the case of determining the termination of Đuranović's judicial function, do you believe that the opinion should also be applied in such a way that Đuranović is reinstated to her judicial function in the Constitutional Court? If you do not think it should be, why?
The recommendations of the Venice Commission opinion are clear and we have a very clear commitment from both sides to implement them. These include proposals to establish a clear legal framework setting the retirement age for judges of the Constitutional Court, introducing a simplified procedure for notifying whether the conditions for retirement of judges of the Constitutional Court have been met, ensuring continuity of judicial office until new judges are appointed, as well as strengthening the conflict of interest provisions relating to the disqualification of judges. I am encouraged that the dialogue is being conducted at both political and expert levels. I am sure that everyone is aware of the urgency of the moment and the importance of resolving problems quickly - through dialogue and compromise.
More broadly, it is time to end the practice of non-voting in Montenegrin politics. Non-voting is not the European way - it harms everyone, and the whole society suffers.
Even in my short time in Montenegro, less than a year, we have seen how quickly the country can move forward through dialogue and compromise, but also how easily it can become bogged down by unilateral moves and exclusion. Based on what I have heard from political actors on both sides, it is clear to everyone what is at stake for the citizens of Montenegro and what needs to be done for this old European country to take its rightful place in a united Europe. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and do what is needed!
How do you see the parliamentary procedure for electing new judges to the Constitutional Court being postponed again?
I repeat, dialogue and compromise are key. Political talks have begun and, if all parties act in the best interests of Montenegro, I am confident that an agreement is within reach.
When the rules are clear and the system works, no one loses. A strong legal framework and a stable political system, with a functioning Constitutional Court, benefit everyone.
In parallel with the agreement on the election of judges to the Constitutional Court, Montenegro must establish clear and firm rules regarding the retirement of judges. The law must be clear and consistent, so that there is no confusion about when judges should retire.
In your opinion, is the closing of one chapter (Chapter 5) at the intergovernmental conference in June a success or a failure for Montenegro, given Podgorica's ambitious plan to "redraw" all chapters by the end of 2026?
Chapter 5, which deals with public procurement, is one of the more important ones. It is part of the so-called foundation chapters, together with chapters 23 and 24, and after its closure, Montenegro became the first country in the current enlargement process to provisionally close one of the foundation chapters. Chapter 5 deals with establishing standards and rules that will ensure that public money is spent transparently and responsibly, and that public contracts and concessions are awarded to the best bidder through a fair procedure. In that sense, I would certainly call it a success. The provisional closure of this chapter represents a concrete achievement for Montenegro.
But you are right - many chapters are not yet closed. Montenegro has no time to waste if it wants to meet the target of closing all chapters by the end of next year. The EU is here to help every step of the way, but Montenegro must remain focused and make the effort.
Is the plan to close all chapters by the end of next year feasible? Is it possible to "knit" the most difficult chapters, such as 23 and 24, in such a short period of time?
The goals set by Montenegro are ambitious, but not unrealistic. The pace of the negotiation process largely depends on Montenegro. The chapters can be closed as soon as the necessary reforms are implemented and the country demonstrates that it is able to apply EU rules in practice.
Looking ahead, the message is clear: with focus, discipline, and teamwork from all institutions, Montenegro can deliver results.
Of course, the chapters will not close on their own. This requires thorough preparations, implementation of reforms and coordination within the Government, with political consensus.
If Montenegro prioritizes European reform processes and avoids instability, disunity, and polarization, including moves that could raise concerns among member states - then yes, even ambitious goals can be achieved.
Do you expect Montenegro to resolve its bilateral disputes with Croatia so that it can close Chapter 31 soon? How do you view Croatia's use of open interstate issues with Montenegro as a political tool, slowing down Podgorica's path towards Brussels? Croatia had a similar experience with Slovenia...
Good neighbourly relations and finding solutions through compromise are part of the fundamental values of the European Union. This is not always easy, especially in regions with complex histories, but it is essential. Building and maintaining trust requires continuous effort, common sense and true leadership.
It is crucial for every candidate country, including Montenegro, to foster dialogue and avoid unnecessary tensions. EU membership means joining a closely knit community, where decisions are made together and have common consequences. It is entirely understandable that member states expect strong cooperation, especially with their neighbours.
It is encouraging to see that Montenegro is taking its relations and remaining issues with Croatia seriously, and is engaging in meaningful dialogue. In this context, I am pleased that the issue of the Croatian House in Tivat was resolved last month. This gives me confidence that the remaining issues can be resolved through constructive, mutually acceptable solutions, because ultimately, there is much more that connects these two neighbours - both through a shared past and a shared European future.
Do you find the statement by the head of parliament Andrija Madnić disputable that he does not oppose the opinions of Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Metodije of Budimlje and Nikšić regarding their affirmative statements about Chetnik dukes Pavle Đurišić and Dragoljub Draža Mihailović controversial?
If political leaders are truly committed to national unity and Montenegro's European future, then inciting divisive and polarizing issues, resorting to historical revisionism, or exploiting painful chapters from the past for political purposes is incompatible with these goals. Such actions directly contradict the spirit of reconciliation and progress.
Are you satisfied with the current dynamics of the work of the Electoral Reform Committee?
Electoral reform is a key step for Montenegro. It will help strengthen the country's political system and make the electoral process more democratic, which is one of the basic conditions for membership in the Union. Therefore, this reform is important not only for internal stability, but also for the continuation of the European path. Montenegro has been waiting for electoral reform since 2014. After an unsuccessful attempt in 2019, the time has finally come to implement it. The Parliament has done a good job in preparing several key laws in this area and we expect their swift adoption. This is a great opportunity to give a new wind to European integration in the next year and a half.
Furthermore, under the current electoral legislation, Montenegro is trapped in an almost continuous election cycle. Such a situation is neither productive nor sustainable. For Montenegro’s democratic system to function, broad political support is needed for key decisions in the area of the rule of law, such as the election of judges to the Constitutional Court. But how can political leaders be focused on dialogue and compromise if they are constantly in a pre-election atmosphere?
Consolidation of elections is essential. Citizens must have the opportunity to express their will, but after that, it is necessary to give space and stability to elected representatives to deliver results within their mandates. Political parties seem to agree that local elections in one day are necessary. There is goodwill on all sides, and I strongly encourage reaching a political agreement on this crucial issue before the summer break. This would be a major step forward, allowing Montenegro to fully focus on EU-related reforms and move decisively towards concluding accession negotiations by the end of next year.
About Thompson's concert: There is no place in the EU for supporting fascism
Croatia has blocked Montenegro from closing Chapter 31 due to, as they stated, “the collapse of neighborly relations.” How much does Marko Perković Thompson’s recent concert in Zagreb, at which the Ustasha salute was shouted and the iconography of that movement was highlighted, contribute to good neighborly relations? Is the photoshoot of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković with a singer who glorifies the Ustasha movement and war criminals in line with EU values?
As the European Commission made clear this week, in the European Union we stand by our values and unequivocally state that there is no place in our Union for any support or justification of fascism.
There is hardly a better investment of public money than in air protection.
One of the most difficult and “costliest” chapters to close is Chapter 27, which relates to the environment. Do you see progress in this area and the country's will to solve environmental problems? What are the key things Montenegro needs to do to “close” this chapter and can the country count on EU support in meeting the benchmarks?
Chapter 27 is not just another administrative obligation to fulfill. It is about ensuring a healthy and safe environment for all citizens of Montenegro. Although reforms in this area may be financially demanding, there is hardly a better investment of public money than protecting our air, drinking water, rivers, lakes, seas and our natural heritage.
Montenegro has made important steps, but challenges remain in waste management, water treatment and nature protection, which require urgent and sustained efforts. I see some progress in the development and expansion of regional waste treatment centers, but more attention needs to be paid to wastewater treatment, including finding solutions for the much-needed wastewater treatment plants in Podgorica and Bijelo Polje. With strong political will and effective partnerships, Montenegro can respond to these challenges and bring concrete benefits to citizens for their health and quality of life.
The EU fully supports this process, including through the national campaign “Keep it safe and it will keep you safe”, which brings together institutions, civil society and citizens to raise awareness and initiate real change. A few days ago, the first major clean-up action took place - one of the major environmental hotspots, a part of Ćemovsko polje near the Livestock Market, was cleaned. The aim was not only to clean the area (this has been done several times), but also to keep it clean. For the first time, surveillance cameras were installed to prevent re-pollution, and municipal services, together with inspection and law enforcement agencies, are actively monitoring the situation on the ground. If we manage to keep this site clean, it will be a major victory for environmental protection, and a model that we can apply to other illegal landfills across Montenegro.
I have called on mayors, local authorities and engaged citizens to follow this example across the country, so that over 300 illegal landfills will eventually become a thing of the past.
I would like to thank our partners in the campaign for their great energy and effort: the Ministry of Ecology, the municipal services of the Capital City, civil society activists, the “Let's Green Montenegro” network and others, as well as the “Voli” company, the corporate sponsor of the cleanup campaign.
We are also grateful to "Vijesti" and other media partners for their support of the campaign - your role is essential in raising awareness and changing habits. Together, by informing and inspiring citizens, we can build a stronger culture of environmental responsibility that will benefit all of Montenegro - today and for generations to come.
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