Montenegrin Official: Countries of Region Not in EU Because of Political Elites that Prefer Status Quo

Dritan Abazovic (BetaPhoto/The Government of Montenegro)

United Reform Action leader Dritan Abazovic, who was until recently the prime minister of Montenegro, has said that the countries of the region are not in the EU because the status quo suits the political elites of these countries, and that behind it all is corruption.

"Only those steeped in organized crime and corruption do not want change. They do not want strong institutions, they do not want justice and negotiating EU membership for decades suits them. Citizens want something entirely different. My belief remains, which I constantly repeat, that corruption is behind nationalism in the Western Balkans," Abazovic told the April 25 edition of the NIN weekly.

"By solving or curbing this problem I am sure that our road to the EU would be faster, more effective and more successful," he added.

Asked what he thought about current relations between Serbia and Montenegro, he replied that since becoming prime minister in 2022 relations had been following an upward trend. He said that he expected Montenegro to appoint an ambassador to Belgrade soon, recalling that Serbia had already appointed its ambassador to Podgorica.