Milović: Montenegro is now the only serious EU candidate

Iceland's "no" to the European Union (EU) is the best thing that could have happened for Montenegro, former Minister of Justice Andrej Milović said.

He stated on the X network that the citizens of Iceland voted against resuming negotiations with the EU in a referendum, leaving Montenegro as the only country that will be ready to join the EU in the next two years.

"The EU is desperate to send a message to the world that it is alive and expanding after 13 years of stagnation, and our main competitor Iceland has excluded itself, making Montenegro now the only serious candidate," said Milović.

According to him, the EU no longer has any options.

"Albania is lagging behind Montenegro, having closed only three out of 33 chapters, not to mention other candidates," Milović said.

He believes that what is needed now is statesmanship, responsibility towards Montenegro and its citizens, as well as political unity between the government and the opposition, to take the final step towards EU membership.

"The situation in which half of the government distances itself from the other half of the government every week is not good, and the greatest responsibility lies with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić," Milović assessed.

He said that Spajić is now the key person who needs to open a dialogue with the opposition.

"And it will start forming a pro-European government and thereby integrate the political representatives of 40 percent of Montenegro," Milović added.

As he stated, such a government would have two main and historic tasks.

"The completion of negotiations and entry into the EU, and the defense of Montenegro from the upcoming destabilization and attacks that will be incomparably stronger in 2027, all for the purpose of preventing Montenegro from entering the EU," Milović assessed.

He stated that "we are witnessing that the government's defensive line has already given way in the first attacks, so what can we hope for when more violent attacks begin, both from outside and from within, and even from within the government itself."

Otherwise, as Milović said, Montenegro could collapse in 2027 and miss a historic opportunity due to political shortsightedness, personal vanity, and statesmanship immaturity.

"No one is more important than Montenegro, so dialogue as soon as possible, all pro-European forces at the table and together in a historic assault on the EU," Milović concluded.