Montenegro is not waiting for membership to act as part of the European Union (EU), but is now harmonizing policies and contributing to common goals, said Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević in Luxembourg.
As announced by the Ministry of European Affairs (MEP), she participated in the ministerial discussion on the European Democratic Shield and Democratic Resilience, organized on the margins of the General Affairs Council (GAC), where she presented Montenegro's views and experience in strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions, the electoral process and the information space.
Gorčević said that Montenegro is not waiting for membership to act as part of the EU.
"We are already fully aligning our foreign and security policy with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and are actively contributing to our common goals," said Gorčević.
She emphasized that Montenegro views democracy, the rule of law and European values not only as accession criteria, but as the foundation of general social progress.
MEPs said that the meeting discussed strengthening EU cooperation with candidate countries in the area of democratic resilience, including the possibility of linking them to European mechanisms such as the European Centre for Democratic Resilience.
Gorčević emphasized that Montenegro has concrete experience in dealing with contemporary challenges to democracy and is willing to share it with European partners.
As she said, threats such as disinformation, hybrid pressures, and attempts to undermine citizens' trust in institutions know no borders and cannot be resolved individually.
"Democratic resilience cannot be built in separate circles, because the threats we face do not stop at the borders of the Union," said Gorčević.
She recalled that Montenegro has established the Coordination Body for Protection from Foreign Information Influence (FIMI), as well as strengthening capacities in the areas of electoral integrity, media freedoms, media literacy, cybersecurity and the fight against hybrid threats.
Gorčević assessed that candidate countries should be included in the key mechanisms of the European Democratic Shield from the beginning, because, as she stated, European democratic resilience can only be built through cooperation based on trust.
According to her, Montenegro is ready not only to use the benefits of the European Democratic Shield, but also to help in its construction.
"As we approach EU membership, we are ready to contribute our experience, expertise and commitment to making European democracy stronger, safer and more resilient for all Europeans," concluded Gorčević.
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