Kos: It is possible that Montenegro will become an EU member in 2028

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos assessed today that the inclusion of new countries in the European Union (EU) is not only about increasing the area of ​​the territory or the number of inhabitants, but also about protection from external influences, and that Montenegro could become the first member by 2028.

"For me, the enlargement process today is a kind of unification of Europe, the likes of which we have never had in history," Kos said at a panel on EU enlargement at the Bled Strategic Forum, the Slovenian News Agency (STA) reported.

She emphasized the importance of leadership on the path to EU membership and more decisive implementation of reforms in candidate countries.

She cited the participants of today's panel - Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama - as positive examples, assessing that she is optimistic about the entry of these countries into the European Union.

"We are making progress with Montenegro, and it is possible that, if we conclude the technical part of the negotiations in 2026, it will become the 2028th member of the European Union in 28," Kos said, adding that Albania could join the EU in 2029.

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob has called on the Western Balkan countries to take advantage of the "open window" for EU accession, which was opened by the war in Ukraine.

Golob also spoke about how to avoid possible blockages by individual states on the path to EU enlargement.

"The 26 or 27-1 formula has already worked, so it could work in these cases as well," said Golob, while his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenković referred to the former Slovenian blockade of Croatia's negotiations with the EU, related to resolving the maritime border issue.

"When it comes to bilateral issues, I am in Slovenia and I will be very polite, let's just say that the past is the past, and that raising bilateral issues is not healthy for the accession process," said Plenković, alluding to the blockade of Croatia's negotiations with the EU in 2008.

The Albanian Prime Minister assessed that with the entry of the Western Balkan countries into the EU, that organization would become "stronger and more compact", while the Montenegrin head of government stressed the importance of compromise in that multiethnic state.

"If the EU expands to include us, it will be stronger and more compact. Why? Because it will not leave any part of its body open to viruses, microbes, to attacks and infections," Rama said.