Podgorica, (MINA) - Head of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) parliamentary club Andrija Nikolic assessed that there is little chance that Montenegro will close all negotiation chapters by the end of next year, if the current government remains in power.

He said that there is difference between Montenegro described in the European Commission (EC) report , one that is progressing, and another, the real Montenegro “in which we live and which is regressing”.

“The fact that Montenegro is making progress in the reports of our international partners is primarily the result of strong determination of the EU for Montenegro to become its member. This is why Brussels turns a blind eye to many problems we witness every day”, said Nikolic in an interview with Pobjeda daily.

He stated that, despite the EU’s geopolitical tendency to expand to Montenegro, the lack of trust in the parliamentary majority has forced some EU members to consider for the first time additional protection mechanisms ahead of admitting new members.

“That’s why the most influential EU countries, through High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, are sending significant messages. The first, that the realistic scenario is for the EU to receive new members, however, not before 2030. And the second that Brussels does not want Russian proxies in the EU”, said Nikolic.

All this, he argues, was followed by the announcements about trial periods for potential new EU members.

“If the current government survives, there is little chance that Montenegro will close all the chapters by the end of 2026. Even if a miracle happens and the chapters are closed by the end of next year, member states will make the final decision on Montenegro’s admission after future parliamentary elections, when they see the composition of the new government”, Nikolic said.

When asked why parties that present themselves as civil-oriented accept the political leadership of the former Democratic Front (DF) and what this says about the character of the government and its European credibility, Nikolic assessed that the parliamentary majority led by Andrija Mandic is abusing the European integration process, depriving it of its essence and showing a clear determination to simulate progress.

“It is the logical consequence of the choice Prime Minister Milojko Spajic made when he decided to legitimize the policy of the Greater Serbian nationalism by bringing it into the Government”, said Nikolic.

According to him, another consequence of Spajic’s choice of strategic partners is that the Europe Now Movement is now losing its political strength, while the former DF is getting stronger.

“Because today in Montenegro, Mandic is copying the model of Aleksandar Vucic from Serbia. For the sake of power, he is ready to pose under the American and NATO flags, to force ministers to ‘play dead’ when the Government appoints an ambassador to Kosovo, and to personally vote in the Defense and Security Council to approve deploying troops to the NATO mission supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia”, said Nikolic.

When asked if the DPS would request Nikola Janovic to return the mandate to the party, Nikolic answered that they would not.