Satler: The government should lend a hand to the opposition, the opposition must not be excluded, nor should they exclude themselves

The final phase of European integration requires national unity on important issues and unity between the government, the opposition and society, said the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Montenegro, Johan Sattler.

The EU Delegation to Montenegro organized a reception on the occasion of Europe Day last night at the Špiro Mugoša Sports Airport in Podgorica.

The reception, as announced by the European House, was attended by the highest state officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, state and local institutions, the media, the civil sector, and the academic community.

Sattler said that Montenegro, as an old European country, is not "joining" Europe, nor is it "bringing" Europe here.

"It's better to say that our mission here is to organize a kind of family reunion – to help Montenegro return home, to take its rightful place in the European family," said Sattler, the host of the reception.

Speaking about Montenegro's European path, he assessed that the country had made significant progress by closing 14 negotiation chapters and emphasized that the accession process was now at a crucial stage.

He particularly emphasized that the completion of European integration requires broad social and political consensus.

"The final phase of this process requires national unity on important issues and everyone must do their part," Satler said.

The EU Ambassador called on the government to work further on building compromise and cooperation with the opposition, but also on the opposition to continue to actively support the European integration process.

This, as Sattler said, means that the ruling majority needs to make an additional effort and reach out to the other side of the political spectrum, in search of compromise and broad, cross-party support.

"This also means that the opposition, which is by definition critical, should be ready to accept the extended hand, to invest in its own political heritage. Those who started this path of European integration must not be excluded, nor should they exclude themselves," said Sattler.

He also emphasized the key role of citizens, civil society and the media in the European integration process.

"European reforms can never achieve their full potential without the active participation of citizens, civil society and the media. Their key contribution to Montenegro's European path over all these years has earned them the position of a trusted voice and an important guide on this European journey," said Sattler.

The EU Ambassador, as announced, also referred to the projects that the EU is implementing in Montenegro, especially in the field of transport infrastructure and environmental protection, including the "Take care, and it will take care of you" campaign, the modernization of the transport network and investments in wastewater treatment projects.

The reception opened with the performance of the EU anthem and the Montenegrin anthem, performed by opera star Olivera Tičević, accompanied by the Three Cellos ensemble, while during the ceremony, paratroopers from the Špiro Mugoša Aeroclub lowered the flags of the EU and Montenegro from a helicopter, symbolically confirming the partnership and common European future.

The program also featured performances by the children's choir "Ljute Kamilice" and the Local Music Orchestra "Đenović".

The event was organized with the support of the Aeroclub "Špiro Mugoša", and the program was dedicated to connections, partnership and the European perspective of Montenegro.