November the 2nd, 2026 – Croatian President Zoran Milanović has accused the EU of wanting to become a superstate, adding that Montenegro, with which Croatia has multiple open issues, is otherwise welcome to join.
President Zoran Milanović stated that Montenegro is welcome to become a full member of the European Union, while at the same time criticising the direction in which the EU is developing. Index reports that the president believes the EU is increasingly trying to become a superstate, whereas it should focus on free trade, freedom of movement and the harmonisation of rules among member states.
Milanović spoke at the 27th Lučindan Gatherings in Zagreb, a traditional meeting of the Montenegrin community in Croatia. The event was also attended by Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović, who is on a working visit to Croatia. The two presidents discussed relations between the two countries and Montenegro’s European future.
“montenegro is welcome to join”
“Montenegro is a candidate for membership of the European Union, it is moving towards the EU and let it come. As far as I am concerned, it is welcome,” Milanović said. Nevertheless, he repeated his criticisms of the European Union, which he believes is exceeding the powers and possibilities on which it was originally founded. In his view, the EU should stick to economic cooperation, free movement and the alignment of rules, rather than striving to create a superstate.
Milanović told Montenegrins that the greatest value they have is their state. He emphasised that Montenegro has realised its statehood and that its future success does not depend exclusively on membership of the European Union. “The greatest thing you have is your state. Montenegro has realised itself, and everything else consists of greater or lesser advances that do not stand in the way of Montenegro being successful, well-governed and relatively prosperous,” Milanović said. He wished Montenegro to continue on its own path and develop as a successful and well-governed state. He concluded his address with verses by the Montenegrin ruler and poet Petar II Petrović Njegoš.
trust between croatia and montenegro must be strengthened
Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović assessed that Croatia and Montenegro are friendly countries and that Montenegro’s membership of the European Union is in the interest of both countries. He stressed that improving relations requires continuing political dialogue and resolving existing open issues.
“It is our shared responsibility to build good-neighbourly relations, foster open dialogue, overcome current challenges and strengthen mutual trust,” Milatović said. He emphasised that a common European future implies political and economic cooperation, mutual respect and a willingness to resolve disagreements. He thanked the Montenegrin community in Croatia for preserving national identity, culture and ties with the home country.
The Lučindan Gatherings are a traditional event dedicated to preserving Montenegrin cultural identity, tradition and ties with Montenegro. They bring together members of the Montenegrin national minority in Croatia as well as representatives of the cultural and public life of the two countries. According to the 2021 census, 3,127 members of the Montenegrin national minority live in Croatia, or 0.08 percent of the total population.
