Ivanovic Links EU Progress to Core Values
- Ivanovic values political culture over legislation
- Statement made Wednesday, 29 July 2026
- Links to April interfaith harmony talks
- EU integration stalled by political culture
- Rule of law remains key hurdle
Real progress begins only when European values become an integral part of political culture and social life, Ivanovic declared on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. The statement, delivered amidst a heated political season in Podgorica, cuts to the core of Montenegro's stalled European Union accession journey. Ivanovic argued that legislative changes alone are insufficient without a deeper transformation in how politics is practiced and how society functions. Officials said the remarks were aimed directly at the ruling coalition and opposition alike, signalling frustration with the slow pace of reforms that has plagued the nation for years. The comments come as the country of 620,000 people struggles to maintain the momentum needed to close the remaining negotiation chapters with Brussels, a process that has become synonymous with political gridlock rather than strategic advancement.
Ivanovic spoke on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, to a gathering of civil society representatives and diplomats in the capital, where the atmosphere was reportedly tense, reflecting the high stakes of the current geopolitical moment. He emphasised political culture over new laws, positing that the mechanical adoption of the *acquis communautaire*—the accumulated legislation, legal acts, and court decisions which constitute the body of European Union law—is meaningless if the spirit of the law is absent. The statement targets the entire political spectrum, challenging the notion that EU integration is merely a technical exercise to be managed by bureaucrats. By framing the issue as one of values rather than technical compliance, the politician is challenging the very foundation of the current political establishment. It is a call for a behavioural shift that extends from the parliament floor to the village square, demanding that the 'European way of life' be understood not just as a set of rules, but as a mindset that prioritises the collective good over individual or party gain.
Montenegro has been an official candidate for EU membership since 2010, opening negotiations in 2012. Yet, the process has dragged on for over a decade, hampered by internal instability and questions regarding the rule of law. The EU has repeatedly stressed that membership is a merit-based process, but the technical benchmarks often mask the deeper requirement for stable democratic institutions. Without a change in political culture, those institutions remain vulnerable to capture and corruption. Analysts noted that Ivanovic's intervention is a rare moment of clarity in a discourse often bogged down by ethnic and partisan bickering. His words suggest that the time for technical manoeuvring is over and that a moral and cultural reckoning is now required. Europe is watching, and the patience of the European Commission is wearing thin. The message was clear: laws can be written overnight, but values take years to cultivate. This distinction is vital for a country that has often been accused of adopting EU legislation 'on paper' while failing to implement it in practice—a phenomenon Brussels refers to as the 'rule of law gap.'
Ivanovic warned that without this shift, Montenegro risks falling behind its neighbours in the race for accession. The region is dynamic, with Albania and North Macedonia also making pushes for integration, creating a competitive pressure that Podgorica cannot ignore. Failure to adapt could mean economic stagnation and continued political isolation at a time when the continent is shifting. The statement serves as a wake-up call to a nation that has grown weary of the long accession road. It demands that leaders look beyond the next election cycle and consider the legacy they are building for future generations. The integration of European values into the social fabric is presented not just as a political necessity, but as a survival strategy for a small nation navigating complex waters. Ivanovic's voice adds to a growing chorus of experts who believe that the bottleneck in the Western Balkans is no longer technical, but political. The will to reform must be genuine, driven by a domestic desire for change rather than just the carrot of EU funds. This internalisation of values is the hardest test Montenegro has faced so far. It requires confronting entrenched interests and breaking the cycle of patronage that has defined the post-independence era. The politician did not shy away from this difficulty, acknowledging that the path forward is steep. However, the alternative—permanent limbo on the edges of Europe—is presented as a far worse outcome.
April's Interfaith Warning Echoes in July
This latest declaration is not an isolated event but rather a continuation of a narrative Ivanovic has been building for months. Back on Monday, 27 April 2026, Ivanovic joined forces with Djonlešaj to highlight the critical importance of interfaith harmony for Montenegro's European path. The April event focused on the social cohesion required to sustain a democratic state, bringing together leaders from different religious communities. Djonlešaj, a key figure in these discussions, emphasised that the Montenegrin identity is pluralistic and that the EU respects this diversity. The two leaders argued that political stability is impossible without religious tolerance. This historical context is essential to understanding the full weight of Ivanovic's latest remarks. In April, the focus was on the 'social' aspect of European values; in July, the focus has shifted to the 'political' aspect. Together, they form a comprehensive critique of the current state of the nation.
Montenegro is a country with a complex religious landscape, including the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Islamic community, and the Catholic Church. Tensions between these groups, particularly regarding the role of the church in state affairs, have historically been a flashpoint for conflict. The 2020 religious protests against the controversial 'Law on Freedom of Religion' demonstrated how quickly society can fracture. The law, which claimed state ownership over certain religious buildings built before 1918 without explicit proof of ownership, was seen by many—particularly the Serbian Orthodox majority—as a direct attack on their faith and identity. The ensuing protests were the largest in the country's recent history, revealing a deep societal rift that politicians have exploited for electoral gain. Ivanovic and Djonlešaj's warnings in April were a direct reference to those volatile divisions. They posited that a European Montenegro must be a Montenegro where faith does not divide but unites. By linking this to the EU path, they are aligning the accession process with the preservation of national unity. It is a strategic move that attempts to de-politicise religion and frame it as a component of European stability.
The continuity between the two statements suggests a coordinated effort to address the root causes of Montenegro's dysfunction. If the social fabric is torn by religious discord, the political culture inevitably becomes polarised and toxic. Therefore, the call for European values is a call for a return to a more civilised and tolerant mode of existence. Experts pointed out that this approach resonates deeply with the EU's emphasis on fundamental rights. Chapter 23 of the acquis communautaire, which deals with judiciary and fundamental rights, specifically requires the protection of religious freedom and the rights of minorities. By championing interfaith harmony, Ivanovic is effectively advocating for the practical application of Chapter 23 before the negotiations are even closed. It is a bottom-up approach to reform, starting with the people rather than the institutions. Djonlešaj's involvement in April adds significant weight to this narrative, as he represents a community that is often at the heart of these tensions. The collaboration between the two figures sends a signal of unity that is rare in the current political climate. It shows that European values can serve as a common ground for diverse groups within Montenegro.
The transition from the April discussion to the July statement indicates a deepening of this analysis. Ivanovic has moved from identifying the social symptoms to diagnosing the political disease. The 'political culture' he speaks of is the environment that allows religious intolerance to fester and be exploited for votes. Changing that culture is the only way to ensure that the harmony spoken of in April becomes a permanent reality. Political analysts in Podgorica have noted the sophistication of this two-step strategy. It avoids the trap of purely technocratic criticism, which often alienates the general public, and instead appeals to a higher sense of moral duty. It frames the EU not as a bureaucratic behemoth, but as a community of values that offers a blueprint for coexistence. This narrative is particularly powerful in a country that has struggled to define its national identity since gaining independence from Serbia in 2006. The European perspective offers a way forward that transcends the binary choices of the past. By weaving together the themes of faith and politics, Ivanovic is attempting to construct a new consensus. It remains to be seen whether the country's entrenched political elites are willing to embrace this vision or if they will continue to stoke division for short-term political survival.
The Geopolitical Calculus: Navigating a Fragmented Landscape
The urgency of Ivanovic's appeal cannot be fully understood without placing it within the broader geopolitical context of the Western Balkans. The region has once again become a chessboard for competing global interests, making Montenegro's EU integration not just an economic aspiration, but a strategic imperative. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU accelerated its engagement with the Western Balkans, recognising that the vacuum left by stalled enlargement could be filled by malign influences seeking to destabilise the continent. Montenegro, despite its NATO membership since 2017, has not been immune to these pressures. The country has faced significant hybrid warfare tactics, including disinformation campaigns and economic coercion, designed to derail its Euro-Atlantic path. Against this backdrop, Ivanovic's insistence on 'values' is also a call for resilience. A society anchored in democratic principles and the rule of law is far more resistant to external manipulation than one governed by transactional politics and weak institutions.
Furthermore, the economic landscape is shifting. The EU's new 'Growth Plan for the Western Balkans,' unveiled with much fanfare, offers billions of euros in pre-accession funds tied to strict reform benchmarks. This represents a departure from previous funding models, which were often criticised for being too lenient. Under the new plan, money is conditional on 'fundamental' reforms—a clear signal that Brussels is done with 'business as usual.' For Montenegro, which relies heavily on foreign investment and tourism, accessing these funds is critical for modernising its infrastructure and stabilising its economy. However, the disbursement of these funds is predicated on the very changes Ivanovic is advocating: an independent judiciary, a free media, and a depoliticised public administration. Without these, the country risks losing out on a vital lifeline that could determine the living standards of the next decade.
The regional dynamics also add a layer of complexity. While Montenegro was once the frontrunner in the accession race, its momentum has stalled, allowing other contenders to catch up. Albania and North Macedonia, despite their own setbacks, have shown a willingness to make difficult compromises, such as the recent French proposal for bypassing bilateral disputes. This puts pressure on Montenegro to reassert its leadership role in the region. Ivanovic's speech can be interpreted as a warning that Montenegro is in danger of losing its status as the 'leader of the pack,' a title that carried significant diplomatic weight in Brussels. The competition is not just for prestige, but for the attention and resources of the EU. As the bloc grapples with its own internal challenges, from war fatigue to economic recession, the window for enlargement may be narrower than previously thought. Missing this window could relegate Montenegro to the periphery of Europe for a generation, a scenario that Ivanovic implicitly warned against in his address. The speech was a reminder that in the high-stakes game of geopolitics, standing still is equivalent to moving backward.
Institutional Decay and the 'Fundamentals First' Hurdle
At the heart of Ivanovic's critique lies a recognition that the primary obstacle to Montenegro's EU accession is the systemic decay of its state institutions. For years, the country has struggled with the phenomenon of 'state capture,' where powerful private interests have infiltrated the mechanisms of government to serve their own ends rather than the public good. This is most evident in the judiciary, where political interference has eroded public trust and hindered the fight against corruption and organised crime. The European Commission's recent reports have consistently flagged Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom, and Security) as the areas requiring the most urgent attention. These chapters are the 'fundamentals' of the acquis, and the EU has adopted a 'fundamentals first' approach, meaning that no other chapters can be formally closed until significant progress is made here. Ivanovic's emphasis on 'political culture' is a direct address to this deadlock. He understands that technical changes to the penal code or judicial council statutes will have little effect if the underlying culture of impunity remains unchanged.
The depth of the problem is illustrated by the slow pace of high-profile corruption trials and the persistent lack of convictions in cases involving top officials. The 'selective justice' often practised—where the opposition is targeted while allies are protected—has created a cynicism among the electorate that is poison to democracy. Ivanovic is effectively arguing that the EU integration process requires a 'mental revolution' among the ruling class. It requires a shift from viewing state institutions as spoils of war to viewing them as public trusts. This is a tall order in a political environment where patronage networks are the primary vehicle for voter mobilisation. The 'clientelism' that defines Montenegrin politics—where citizens trade votes for jobs, services, or favours—is antithetical to the meritocratic principles of the European Union. Dismantling these networks requires a level of political courage that has been scarce in Podgorica.
Moreover, the media environment, often described as highly polarised and dependent on political funding, plays a crucial role in shaping this political culture. Without a free and professional press that can hold power to account, the behavioural shifts Ivanovic calls for are unlikely to take root. The EU has repeatedly called for the de-politicisation of the public broadcaster (RTCG) and for legal frameworks to protect journalists from SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). Yet, progress has been halting. Ivanovic's speech serves as a reminder that the rule of law is an ecosystem; it requires a healthy judiciary, a competent police force, and a vigilant media to function. His demand for a cultural shift is a demand for a systemic overhaul of this ecosystem. The coming months will be critical. With the European Commission expected to publish its annual progress report in the autumn, the Montenegrin government is under pressure to demonstrate tangible results. Ivanovic has set the benchmark: it is not enough to pass the laws; the government must prove that it is living by them. The path to Brussels, it seems, runs through the conscience of the nation's political elite.