Milatović: Europe needs to regain confidence in the values ​​it represents

Europe needs to regain confidence in the values ​​it represents, and its own prosperous future, said Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović.

At the invitation of the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, he participated in the Bled Strategic Forum, which is being held for the 20th time, under the slogan: "A World Escaping Control".

Milatović spoke at the presidential panel, whose participants were: Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, Estonian President Alar Karis, and Czech President Petr Pavel.

The President of Montenegro said that, as a representative of a new generation of politicians in the Balkans, he is more optimistic about developments in Europe than individual member states.

"What Europe lacks today is self-confidence. I want to see European leaders represent with more conviction and pride what Europe already is: institutions, the rule of law, human rights, quality of life, social justice. Values ​​that simply do not exist in many other places in the world. And as the president of a country that aspires to become part of that club, I want to see more self-confidence among European leaders," Milatović said, as announced by his cabinet.

He pointed out that throughout history, unity has always been the European Union's response to global political challenges.

"The first step was the unification of continental Europe, and that's how the idea of ​​the European Union was born. In the 1970s, the focus was on consolidating the western wing. Then the Europeans decided to include Great Britain. The 1980s were focused on consolidating the southern wing, and the 1990s on the eastern wing of Europe. That's why I believe the right answer is: even more Europe. And that's why, as the representative of the only country on this panel that is not yet a member of the European Union, I can speak on behalf of the candidate countries and their efforts to become part of the European family. In a world that is becoming increasingly challenging, I believe that Europe should remain consistent with a policy that delivers results, and that is the enlargement policy. The inclusion of the Balkans, but also countries further east such as Ukraine and Moldova, should be a clear answer. In this context, as the President of Montenegro, the most advanced candidate country, I always emphasize that Montenegro's membership in the EU is not just a story about Montenegro. It would be a positive signal, a message to the rest of the region that enlargement is possible and that Europe still knows how to solve its own challenges," said Milatović.

He also believes that Europe is becoming stronger and more independent when it comes to security and that it is necessary to "find a just peace for Ukraine."

"Also, regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said that Montenegro supports the so-called 'two-state solution', which it has already shown by recognizing Palestine, and stressed that no one can remain immune to the events in Gaza, which he called a 'humanitarian catastrophe'," the statement reads.