Cetinje, March 19, 2025.
His Excellency Mr. Martijn Elhersma, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Montenegro on a non-residential basis, met yesterday, March 18, with His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral in the premises of the Metropolis in the Cetinje Monastery.
In an open and substantive dialogue, the interlocutors discussed numerous topics concerning the position of the Church in Montenegro, especially in the context of Montenegro's accession to the European Union, as well as other challenges facing Montenegrin society at the present time.
The Metropolitan informed his interlocutor that he is not opposed to Montenegro's accession to the European Union, nor are the majority of Montenegrin citizens, especially because of the expectation that this will lead to the strengthening of the rule of law and democracy in Montenegro. The Metropolitan emphasized that, on the other hand, European civilization is a broader concept than the European Union, and that our regions and our people have been, are and will remain part of the European civilization circle. The Metropolitan also emphasized that he believes that the clergy and people, through their struggle for law and justice in relation to the position of the Church in Montenegro, have made a great contribution precisely to the realization of the ideal of a state governed by the rule of law.
Ambassador Elhersma said in the conversation that the guiding idea of ​​the European Union is not to be a comprehensive solution to all issues, but that it represents an excellent framework for states to improve their societies, above all in terms of the rule of law and the democratic system, but also in terms of the economy and other issues that pose internal and interstate challenges. The Ambassador said that the European Union is a project that encourages solutions in the spirit of peace and dialogue between different ethnic and other social groups. Mr. Ambassador was also interested in the views of the Metropolitan on other current global and regional issues.
From the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral