Montenegro should not view membership in the European Union as the final stage of the integration process, but rather as a new phase in which society must maintain and further improve established standards, and that transformation requires stable institutions, consistent reforms, and a high level of social responsibility, it was concluded at the European Café organized by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE).
This format of informal discussions aims to contribute to a better understanding of EU policies, the importance of reforms, and strengthening awareness of European values among young people in Montenegro. Today’s guest, the Ambassador of Italy to Montenegro, Andreina Marsella, offered valuable insights in this regard.
Ambassador Marsella emphasized the importance of a strong normative framework and respect for the law as key foundations of stability. She highlighted that the EU sets clear standards that help preserve order in a democratic society, and pointed to the transformative potential that European integration brings to citizens and to qualitative changes in their lives.
“When Montenegro becomes an EU member, administrative procedures – such as obtaining residence permits – will be easier. Movement within the Union will also be facilitated, and the advantages of membership will bring numerous benefits for citizens. The EU has enormous power to drive reforms, change institutions, and improve the quality of life. The difference between the period before and after membership will be clearly visible,” Marsella explained.
Speaking about institutional stability, the Ambassador stressed the importance of a professional public administration. “If you wish to take inspiration from Italy, although we often change governments, what truly matters is that the public administration remains stable, strong, and continuously implements reforms. In Montenegro, there is often an inclination to change everything along with a change of government, which undermines the consistency and continuity needed for reforms,” she said.
“Today’s European Café was truly inspiring, interesting, and useful. Through this conversation with the Ambassador, we learned about Montenegro’s EU integration process, as well as about the support of Italy as an EU member state, which is very significant. We thank the Ambassador for taking the time to share her perspective with us,” said Nejla Javorovac, a student of Humanities at the University of Donja Gorica (UDG).
“The Ambassador patiently answered all our questions, provided clear insights into the reform process and the importance of European values, and inspired us to actively follow and participate in shaping the future of our country,” shared impressions Anja Asanović, also a student of Humanities at the UDG.
The European Café was organized within the project EU Compass for Youth, implemented by the CCE with the support of the Ministry of European Affairs, with the aim of bringing the decision-making process in the field of European integration closer to young people.
Itana Gogić, Programme Associate