DPM Bečić meets with European Parliament's Rapporteur for Montenegro

Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić met with Marjan Šarec, the European Parliament's Rapporteur for Montenegro, during his official visit to the country.

Rapporteur Šarec reaffirmed his continued support for Montenegro on its European path, emphasizing the importance of unity and cooperation.

Certain issues should never be politically exploited, just as there are matters that require the unity and joint action of all socio-political actors. This is particularly true for Montenegro’s European path. Montenegro is on the right track to achieving its national strategic goals, and you can count on our support. To realize your European aspirations, it is crucial that we all work together wisely, with clearly defined political and social priorities. We are all part of the same team—your success is our success. I welcome the numerous achievements made in recent months, but it is essential to continue delivering concrete results in all areas of public life, as these will be decisive in accelerating Montenegro’s EU accession, stated Šarec.

Deputy Prime Minister Bečić expressed his satisfaction with Mr. Šarec’s visit, confident that his sincere friendship and deep understanding of the Western Balkans would significantly contribute to achieving Montenegro’s key foreign policy objective—full EU membership.

Bečić emphasized that the closure of three negotiation chapters and a positive Interim Benchmark Assessment Report clearly demonstrate Montenegro’s political commitment and the effective cooperation of its institutions in fulfilling European obligations. These achievements also reflect the recognition of Montenegro’s reform efforts by European partners.

While these accomplishments serve as motivation, they also oblige us to intensify our efforts in the coming period to achieve our goal—closing all remaining chapters by the end of 2026 and becoming a full EU member by 2028. The government’s priorities have been clearly defined from the beginning and are evident through concrete results, as acknowledged by top EU officials and the annual progress report, Bečić stated.

He reiterated that accelerating European integration, improving citizens' living standards, and the determined fight against organized crime and corruption remain the government's top priorities. Despite the institutional crisis, staffing and regulatory challenges, and a system weakened over decades, Montenegro has made significant progress in these areas, proving its commitment to stability and unity.

Bečić highlighted the notable successes in combating crime and corruption, achieved through the dedication and trust of security and prosecutorial institutions, as well as cooperation with international partners. However, he pointed out that the inefficiency of certain judicial processes and the lack of timely verdicts remain significant challenges.

It is clear that Montenegro no longer has untouchables. The responsible institutions do not care about someone's name, affiliation, or criminal ties—only whether they have committed crimes. That is why there is panic among criminal networks and fear of reforms aimed at eliminating illicit influences and strengthening law enforcement, Bečić emphasized.

The Deputy Prime Minister informed Šarec about the ongoing recruitment process for new police officers, with over 500 applicants already registered. He also highlighted two legislative initiatives currently under public discussion that will significantly tighten security, health, and other requirements for possessing and carrying firearms, as well as harsher penalties for illegal actions in this regard. Additionally, as part of the "Respect Life, Return the Weapons" campaign, more than 1,700 firearms and approximately 55,000 rounds of ammunition have been surrendered in January alone. Bečić also underscored the continuous actions targeting organized crime groups and high-risk individuals, as well as the implementation of other measures set by the National Security Council.

Montenegro's European future has no alternative. The historic opportunity to become the 28th member of the European Union in 2028 is a goal that transcends daily politics and individual interests. This moment demands unity and determination from all societal stakeholders because Montenegro’s future depends on our readiness to collectively build a society free from crime and corruption, based on the rule of law and strong institutions, Bečić concluded.