Citizens of Montenegro strongly support the country’s European path, recognize the benefits of future membership in the European Union, and express a high level of trust in European and Montenegrin institutions, according to data from the spring survey conducted by the European Union within the framework of the Eurobarometer program on a semi-annual basis.
Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević said that the survey results confirm strong pro-European sentiment among citizens and growing European awareness in Montenegro.
“It is particularly encouraging that 75% of citizens believe that Montenegro’s future membership in the European Union will bring concrete benefits to the country. This confirms that citizens understand the importance of the European path and see European integration as a process that directly improves quality of life, strengthens institutions, and opens new development opportunities for Montenegro,” said Gorčević.
As she stated, it is especially significant that 68% of Montenegro’s citizens express attachment to the European Union, while EU institutions enjoy considerable trust among citizens in the country.
“Membership in the European Union is not only a political and administrative process, but also a matter of values and belonging to a community to which we naturally aspire. The trust that citizens show toward European institutions confirms that they see the European Union as a reliable framework for Montenegro’s future development,” said Gorčević.
Symbolically, precisely on Europe Day, the Eurobarometer results confirm that the European idea enjoys strong support among citizens in Montenegro.
“The support of citizens shows that Montenegro’s European path represents a clear social and state choice, especially considering that as many as 65% of citizens believe Montenegro is moving in the right direction. This confirms citizens’ trust in the policies of the Government of Montenegro and shows that citizens recognize the results of the country’s European path,” said Gorčević.
According to Eurobarometer data, Montenegro is convincingly ahead among the countries of the Western Balkans and achieves a result that is twice above the European Union average, where the same view is shared by 31% of citizens.
Speaking about the results in areas crucial for the further course of the negotiation process, Gorčević pointed out that even the most demanding areas are recording growing public trust.
“Trust in the judiciary in Montenegro today stands at 49%, representing an increase of 29 percentage points compared to the previous survey and the best result among candidate countries in the region. Although much work still lies ahead, it is important that citizens recognize progress in areas that are key to the successful completion of the negotiation process,” concluded Gorčević.
In addition, trust in the police in Montenegro increased by 30 percentage points, trust in the army by 36 percentage points compared to the previous survey, while trust in the Government in the spring Eurobarometer stands at 54%. Although much work remains to be done, these figures indicate a strengthening perception of the rule of law, institutional stability, and citizens’ trust in the state’s capacity to ensure legal certainty, equality before the law, and effective protection of the public interest.