Professor Gordana Đurović believes that if Montenegro does not close the remaining 19 chapters by early 2027, this may further slow down the expansion of the European Union.
Most of the Montenegrin opposition believes that early parliamentary elections would be the only solution to overcome the parliamentary crisis.
The Democratic People's Party left the ruling majority at the beginning of the year. Milan Knežević, after a disagreement over the start of the construction of a collector in the Zeta village of Botun.
Following the adoption of controversial laws on internal affairs and the National Security Agency, the Europe Now movement, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, the deputy left Miodrag Laković who also served as the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Security and Defense.
After the adoption of controversial laws on internal affairs and the National Security Agency, the Europe Now movement, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, was left by MP Miodrag Laković, who also served as the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Security and Defense.
"I think elections would slow down European integration. I don't think we have time for early elections, but the opposition has a legitimate right to demand them because they feel they have been let down in an important policy, such as the area of internal affairs and national security," said Đurović, a guest on the show Dijagnoza.
The Montenegrin government has repeatedly announced an ambitious plan to close all negotiation chapters, 19 of them, by the end of 2026.
Đurović believes that the process must be completed within that timeframe.
"This is a window of time that has opened, which will close as such if the opportunity is not seized," says Đurović.
If the process is not completed, she added, by early 2027, the geopolitical constellation in the region could completely change.
"That would return us to a rather patient regional picture, full of complex relationships, which could mean that EU enlargement will only take place after 2030. So, that's the second one, that's scenario B. Let's go back to this scenario A, which we need to fight for," says Đurović.
"Adopt 90 laws by June"
In order to continue the pace of accelerated chapter closure, the Parliament of Montenegro would, Đurović reminds, have to adopt as many as 90 laws aligned with European directives by June.
In order for this process to proceed normally, he adds, an agreement between the government and the opposition is necessary.
"So, both sides have to give in a little. Compromises are made in Europe by creating a position that both sides are winners. So, you can't be the absolute winner and the other side is the absolute loser, and we're all on the block for EU entry," Đurović said.
He believes that the ruling coalition should be the first to give in.
"And then we need to create space, to create a dignified space where the opposition can react and try to return to the European bloc, so to speak. If there is no understanding, then we risk that sensitive part of the reform that is in the political zone, and that is that small part of the electoral reform that must definitely be completed," concludes Đurović.
