Pusić said that Montenegro continues to have the support of the majority of its citizens and most political parties for EU membership, despite a slight decline in enthusiasm due to recent political and geopolitical developments.

According to her, the main challenge for pro-European forces in Montenegro is to organize politically for the upcoming elections and take responsibility for leading the country.

“Those in Montenegro who truly want Montenegro to join the EU must win the elections. I believe that is the first task,” she said.

Pusić emphasized that Montenegro is in a different situation compared to other EU candidate countries.

“For Montenegro, unlike perhaps all other current and future candidates, EU membership is a matter of Montenegro’s survival as a state,” she declared.

She warned that if European integration fails, Montenegro would be left without real sovereignty.

“If they fail in this project, they will remain formally, legally, and of course de facto without independence and sovereignty,” Pusić warned.

According to her, pressure on Montenegro mainly comes from Serbia and Russia, which she said view Montenegro as part of a broader pro-Russian policy in the region.

Pusić added that the problem is not only external pressure, but also the existence of strong political forces within Montenegro itself that, according to her, do not believe the Montenegrin state should exist as an independent country.

“In Montenegro, there is a part of the opposition that believes Montenegro should not exist as an independent state,” she stated.