Jakov Devcic, director of the regional office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for Montenegro and Serbia, described German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s statement on starting negotiations for Montenegro’s EU accession as a deliberate signal of Germany’s confidence in Montenegro’s membership prospects and as a message to other EU member states. He stressed that while Montenegro has achieved significant progress in recent years, it still faces major challenges, including strengthening the rule of law, fighting corruption and organised crime, ensuring political stability, increasing judicial independence, and safeguarding media freedom and civil society. Devcic also highlighted the importance of limiting external influence and maintaining a unified domestic political commitment to reforms.
He noted Montenegro could play a strategic role in supporting the EU on issues such as illegal migration, given its position along the Balkan route. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has supported Montenegro’s EU path since 2001 through initiatives in democracy-building, rule of law, political education, youth leadership, and regional networking, helping political parties and future leaders engage with EU processes. Devcic emphasised that EU accession is not only about adopting legislation but also about fostering a modern political culture based on dialogue, compromise, and consensus, which is essential for Montenegro’s long-term integration.
