Today in Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović held a meeting with Members of the European Parliament, including Marjan Šarec, the Permanent Rapporteur for Montenegro, David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), MEP Željana Zovko, Vice President of the European People’s Party, MEP Vladimir Prebilič, Shadow Rapporteur for Montenegro from the Group of the Greens, and MEP Costas Mavrides, Shadow Rapporteur for Montenegro from the Socialists and Democrats group.

In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović highlighted that Montenegro’s European Union accession would be beneficial not only for Montenegro but also for the EU and the entire region. He expressed his appreciation to all participants and their political affiliations for their unwavering support.

The dialogue centered around the ongoing political situation in Montenegro, emphasizing the necessity of communication between the parliamentary majority and the opposition. Recognizing the pivotal moment for Montenegro, all parties were encouraged to prioritize collective national interests and collaborate towards achieving full EU membership by 2028.

Rapporteur Šarec shared insights from his recent productive visit to Montenegro, which deepened his understanding of the local context—valuable for his upcoming country report. He reaffirmed the strong backing Montenegro has from the European Parliament and underscored the urgency of fulfilling all criteria necessary for closing negotiation chapters. He stressed that Montenegro’s achievements would inspire both the EU and the region, insisting that this opportunity should not be overlooked. He advocated for de-escalating tensions and fostering an environment of dialogue and consensus.

Chair McAllister reiterated the European Parliament’s unwavering support for Montenegro, acknowledging it as the leading candidate for EU accession, having already initiated all negotiation chapters. He praised the considerable progress made in the past year and highlighted the critical need to maintain Montenegro’s alignment with foreign policy, political stability, and to avoid social polarization, which could impede progress. He stressed the importance of cross-party cooperation and encouraged Montenegro to resolve outstanding bilateral issues with Croatia. McAllister concluded by inviting Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović to present to AFET soon, sharing positive developments from Montenegro.

Shadow Rapporteur Mavrides expressed his complete support for Montenegro in the upcoming period, especially as Cyprus prepares to take on the EU Council presidency in the first half of 2026—a key time when Montenegro is anticipated to finalize numerous negotiation chapters. He urged Montenegro to engage with him for any forthcoming initiatives to guarantee prompt support and coordination within the European Parliament.