Interview conducted by Milena Aprcović
“What worries me most is how easily people lie, how history is being rewritten, war criminals glorified, and everything, especially our core values, devalued. I’m also deeply concerned by how powerless our institutions seem when it comes to protecting those values”, says Jovana Marović in an interview with Antena M. Marović is the former Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Integration, and Regional Cooperation, as well as the former Minister of European Affairs.
Nearly three years have passed since she stepped down from both her government role and her position as vice president of the Civic Movement URA.
Today, she says she would only consider returning to Montenegrin politics if she could play a real role in shaping it, and believes independent thinking is often unwelcome in the country’s current political climate.
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Antena M: “Even though I no longer hold public office, my mission, ‘Montenegro in the EU’, isn’t over.” That’s what you said nearly three years ago when you resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs. At the time, you felt conditions weren’t right for progress on EU integration. Since then, has Montenegro been speeding down the EU highway, or are other drivers just constantly honking at us?
Marović: I’m glad you brought up that quote, because keeping that promise is one of the few bright spots from that period. The fact that I continue to write, advocate, and propose models for accelerating Montenegro’s EU accession proves I meant every word.
It might sound like a cliché, but that’s been my goal ever since I first understood what the EU stands for, almost 30 years ago. I've worked toward it ever since, despite the insults and efforts to discredit my work by members of today’s parliamentary majority. As I said back then, I wasn’t in a position to perform miracles, especially not without the full backing of both the government and parliament.
As for your question, it’s not easy to answer. On one hand, the fact that we’re still moving forward, with a roadmap to close all chapters by the end of 2026, gives us both hope and a sense of responsibility to do what we can. On the other hand, we’re constantly reminded of reality, not because reforms are slow, but because there’s simply no genuine will to implement deep, structural change.
Antena M: You’ve previously pointed out that the rule of law isn’t a priority for the parliamentary majority, and that basic democratic values are being traded away. If a foreigner asked you, “Jovana, what worries you most about your country right now?”, what would you say?
Marović: What worries me most is how effortlessly people lie, how history is being rewritten, how war criminals are glorified, and how everything, including our most fundamental values, is being eroded. I’m also alarmed by the inability of our institutions to defend those values.
As I recently said, it turns out you can sell a country in just seven days, as long as ministers aren’t asleep and can manage to tap “like” in a WhatsApp group, effectively greenlighting the creation of a so-called “new homeland”. That episode perfectly illustrates how far we’ve fallen. I just wish it were more obvious to everyone.
Maybe, by some twist of fate, we’ll become an EU member in 2028 or 2029, even without meeting all the necessary criteria. However, there will still be a day after accession, and nothing will magically improve. Our institutions won’t be built overnight, and our values won’t suddenly flourish just because we’re in the EU.
Antena M: You’ve said that reforms must be felt in people’s daily lives. Which reforms do you believe are most crucial for Montenegro?
Marović: Above all, we need strong, independent institutions. Judges and prosecutors must be selected based on integrity and competence. Elections need to be fair. We must have truly independent media. And we need to put an end to party-based hiring, finally. Once that’s the foundation, it becomes much easier to build a modern, European Montenegro on top of it.
Antena M: How do you view the frequent violations of the presumption of innocence in public discourse, and the downplaying of violence, especially when it comes from parties whose members control the security sector?
Marović: Sadly, in Montenegro, we’ve normalized the idea that anyone can get away with anything. It’s become acceptable for people with zero experience in security to be in charge of that very sector, and they seem to have no problem ignoring basic legal principles like the presumption of innocence.
We can call this out, of course, but I’m afraid that more and more citizens are adapting to the situation instead of using elections to hold leaders accountable.
Antena M: Under what conditions would you return to Montenegrin politics?
Marović: I would only return if I could genuinely influence policy. I would never again accept a role where my principles are treated as a weakness, or where my voice is dismissed just because I’ve been outvoted, whether in government or within a party. I often quote Krleža: “Just because I stood alone doesn’t mean I wasn’t right”. But in politics, independent thinking is often unwelcome.
I would come back only to help make Montenegro better. I’m not interested in status or glory. And at this moment, I don’t see any party or platform that truly motivates me. It would have to be something new, a story I’d help write alongside people who share the same values, who have integrity, and who truly put Montenegro first.
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