Good morning! The President has decided to return a set of so-called EU laws to parliament following reactions from civil society, which warned that mass adoption of laws without procedures ensuring transparency and public participation undermines the accession process. Laws are not adopted for form’s sake, and we are not entering Europe just to enter it, but because of reforms, progress, and the quality of life of Montenegro’s citizens. I understand the criticism from the civil sector, but I cannot understand Milatovic, because this move achieves nothing for himself nor for others.
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Why Is Milatovic Holding Back Montenegro’s EU Path?
I don’t know why we are suddenly all pretending to be naïve. I do not want to belittle the enormous bureaucratic work of people in the administration or the efforts of politicians, but we all know very well what is happening right now and why a window of opportunity has opened for us to complete integration obligations at an accelerated pace and enter the EU. Meeting conditions and standards is important, but it has never been—and never will be—the primary or decisive factor when it comes to EU enlargement and membership.
We are all aware that better people could have led us into the EU, just as better people could have led us into NATO and restored Montenegro’s independence. But if we had waited for the best to do it, we would never have reached where we are today. Had we followed the “good Slavko,” Vucic would now be our president.
First, I don’t know whether we, as a society and a state, have the capacity to produce outstanding personnel. Second, I don’t know how important it really is for good people to govern the state. I think it is far more important that they govern well—that they manage public affairs effectively.
We are also aware that the ruling majority will use the accelerated accession period to divert public attention from examples of poor governance, and that there is a risk that laws and solutions not required for EU entry, but serving narrow political interests, could be pushed through under fast-track procedures. But in the political context, criticism about the quality of the pre-accession path is futile and irrelevant. Civil society needs to record and point out shortcomings in the process, but it is dangerous to halt the process over issues we were all aware of from the beginning and to which we knowingly signed on.
As much as I believe in the good intentions of civil society, I distrust politicians just as much. Although President Milatovic showed signs of maturity at the beginning of his term and had some constructive and corrective moments, recently, he has shown that pressure prevents him from delivering what he nominally stands for.
Regarding the formation of the government in Podgorica and his involvement in that campaign, the Botun issue, and now the return of these laws, he has shown a lack of firmness and consistency and a susceptibility to pressure. We all know there is psychological pressure and a desire to retaliate against Spajic and PES. He uses every opportunity to complicate their plans, which is legitimate, but he does so in a way that produces a countereffect.
Whatever the motive for returning the laws—whether principles, revenge against PES, pressure from Serbia via family ties, or fear of someone—all of that is less important than the fact that very few people believe in his good intentions.
If EU membership is truly the top priority, then we need to hold our noses, ignore differences, and push forward together—if that is indeed the goal. And it should be, since over 70% of citizens want it. As the finish line approaches, many people will reveal their true character and possible service to outside interests. Through his behaviour over Botun and this move, the President has significantly deepened public doubts about his ability to perform the office he holds.
That’s all for today. We wish you a pleasant rest of the day.
Kind regards,
Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM analyst and columnist
(Columnists’ opinions and views do not necessarily reflect those of the CdM editorial board)
