The European Commission's 2025 Progress Report confirms that Montenegro is a leader in accession negotiations and represents a strong encouragement for membership in the European Union by 2028, said President Jakov Milatović.
The document was presented to him today by the Head of the EU Delegation, Johan Satler.
Milatović said that the next 14 months are crucial and that it depends on the capabilities of the institutions whether EU membership will become a reality, his cabinet announced.
He emphasized the need to strengthen the rule of law, the efficiency of the judiciary, transparent appointments in judicial institutions, the completion of the Constitutional Court, and the improvement of the electoral system.
"On the economic front, the EC notes a slowdown in growth and recommends fiscal discipline, strengthening corporate governance and the timely establishment of the Fiscal Council," the statement added.
Milatović recalled that international agreements must be harmonized with the EU acquis, and that his moves - returning the agreement with the United Arab Emirates and the Law on the Development Bank to the Parliament - demonstrated consistency with the European course.
Montenegro will host the EU-Western Balkans Summit on June 1, 2026, which, he said, is a confirmation of the country's European future.
"The report received is the best so far, but also a clear warning that there is no room for stagnation. It depends on us whether this will be just encouragement or a turning point towards full EU membership," Milatović concluded.
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