Ivanović: The Western Balkans is not the periphery of the European project, but part of its future

The latest edition of WB Report is dedicated to Montenegro. It also features an interview with Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović, who, among other things, stated that Montenegro is the most advanced candidate for membership in the European Union, stressing that this progress is the result not only of the reforms implemented, but also of a commitment grounded in European values.

European integration is not merely an administrative process; above all, it is a civilizational choice and a commitment based on values. Real progress begins only when European values become an integral part of political culture and social awareness, Ivanović said.

He emphasized that Montenegro has built its credibility among its European partners through consistency, reliability, and a steadfast commitment to the values it upholds.

Today, the European Union is looking not only for countries that wish to join it, but also for countries that can contribute to its future. In this regard, Montenegro offers a valuable experience - that of a society which, despite numerous challenges, has managed to preserve interethnic cohesion, a culture of dialogue, and the conviction that differences should not be overcome by erasing them, but through mutual understanding, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Asked about the "28 by 28" initiative, which aims for Montenegro to join the European Union by 2028, Ivanović explained that it represents a timeframe through which the country assumes additional responsibility for its own work.

We cannot decide on behalf of all 27 Member States, but through the quality of what we do we can influence their assessment. In diplomacy, as in life, trust is not demanded - it is earned. It is also important to understand that the European Union itself is in a different geopolitical moment today than it was just a few years ago. Following a series of security, economic, and political challenges, enlargement is no longer merely a technical issue of neighbourhood policy; it is increasingly becoming a matter of the long-term stability and strategic resilience of the European continent. In this context, the Western Balkans is not the periphery of the European project, but part of the answer to the question of what Europe will look like in the decades to come. This has been confirmed by statements from the highest-ranking EU officials and Member States, and let me note that we heard this once again at the EU-Western Balkans Summit, held on 5 June in Tivat, Montenegro. The messages delivered on that occasion were clear and unequivocal - the final countdown to Montenegro's accession to the European Union has begun, Ivanović stressed.

He devoted particular attention to Montenegro's achievements in the areas of the rule of law and the fight against organised crime, emphasizing that the country's international partners assess its progress on the basis of concrete results.

Today, the key question is not whether crime exists, but whether the state has the political will and institutional strength to defeat it. For the first time in many years, the fight against organised crime is no longer a matter of political rhetoric, but a measurable process producing tangible results, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Speaking about the importance of regional cooperation, Ivanović pointed out that it represents the best test of political maturity and of the ability of the countries of the region to focus not on their differences, but on what unites them and on the many commonalities that can facilitate cooperation.

I am convinced that the stability of the Western Balkans will not, nor should it, be the result of the complete absence of disagreements; rather, it will be the result of the ability to resolve differing views through dialogue rather than by building new walls. This is a lesson Europe learned after its greatest tragedies, and one that our region must fully embrace. That is why I do not see regional cooperation as a diplomatic obligation, but as an investment in the future, because no country in the Western Balkans can achieve genuine success on its own. Together, we can create a region known for the opportunities it creates, rather than for the crises it produces, he added.

Ivanović also underscored the importance of strengthening economic cooperation with the German-speaking countries, noting that Montenegro should attract investments that bring knowledge, technology, and long-term development value.

If we want to be competitive in 21st-century Europe, we must attract investments that create new value, rather than simply generate new consumption, Ivanović said.

Speaking about Montenegro's greatest strengths and challenges, Ivanović stressed that the country's greatest asset lies not only in its geographical location, natural beauty, or strategic position, but also in its readiness to shape its future according to modern standards.

Our greatest strength is the fact that we still have the opportunity to shape our future according to our own standards. We have the opportunity to build institutions capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century, to learn from the experiences of others, and to avoid many of the mistakes they have already made, Ivanović said.

He identified the development of a long-term culture of trust - in institutions, knowledge, dialogue, and our own capabilities - as Montenegro's greatest challenge, emphasizing that the country's future depends on achieving a broad social consensus on its most important national priorities.

Montenegro is a country that possesses all the prerequisites for success. The question before us is not whether we are capable of succeeding, but whether we will have the wisdom, patience, and shared determination to transform that potential into lasting success, Ivanović concluded.

The full interview is available at: https://www.westbalkan.at/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WB-Report-Montenegro.pdf