PODGORICA – Slovenian European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, visited Podgorica on Thursday to urge Montenegro to intensify its efforts to complete negotiation chapters with the EU by 2026.
Kos emphasized that Montenegro has a unique opportunity to finalize its negotiations during her tenure, noting that both President Jakov Milatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić confirmed the citizens’ desire for this progress.
“Montenegro is facing a historic opportunity, and there is no time to lose,” Kos stated.
In response to questions from journalists, she highlighted that engaging the opposition and backing reforms is crucial for making headway, though she acknowledged that parliament is a venue for discussing differing opinions.
“I anticipate that the parliamentary majority will support necessary reforms,” Kos remarked.
Speaking to parliament members, she reiterated that Montenegro has the potential to become the next EU member state, which is the purpose of her visit.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić expressed his willingness to cooperate with the opposition on the European path, asserting that no one in government or opposition should undermine this opportunity.
“No one in parliament should obstruct the European journey, especially considering their voters,” Spajić stated.
Regarding the protests organized by the student group “Where to Tomorrow?”, he mentioned he reached out to the organizers to hear their perspectives. “We are open to dialogue. Our doors are always open,” Spajić said.
Thousands of students protested following the tragic shooting in Cetinje that resulted in 12 deaths, demanding the resignation of Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Šaranović and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić, who holds security responsibilities.
Šaranović and Bečić, while refusing to resign, accused the student activists of being puppets of the media and opposition, despite the students distancing themselves from political parties.
The opposition boycotted Commissioner Kos’s address at the Montenegrin parliament, having been obstructing parliamentary sessions for weeks. They claim a constitutional coup occurred when the ruling majority moved to retire a Constitutional Court judge. The opposition alleges that the ruling faction, led by the pro-Serbian and pro-Russian right and Parliament President Andrija Mandić, aims to “paralyze” Montenegro’s legal system, rendering the Constitutional Court ineffective and hindering elections. According to the Montenegrin Constitution, the Constitutional Court is responsible for confirming the outcomes of both parliamentary and local elections. (January 16, 2025)
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