Membership within reach in 2028: Montenegro ready for final phase of negotiations with the EU

Montenegro is ready for the final phase of accession to the European Union (EU) and could become the 28th member of that club in 2028, EU leaders said yesterday at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, the largest international event in the country's history.

President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Lajen She said that the European future of the Western Balkans is achievable and that the process of accession to the Union remains based on merit, but that it must be more dynamic and reward implemented reforms.

According to "Vijesti", one of the key messages from the Summit is that it is realistic to expect Montenegro to close all negotiation chapters by the end of the year, in order to become a member in 2028, and that Albania, which has set a goal of membership by 2030, will most likely be the next member.

EU leaders stressed that Montenegro has already shown progress through strengthening institutions and harmonizing legislation with Union standards, and that the community remains a reliable partner that will continue to provide continuous support to the Western Balkans in the areas of security, economy and democracy.

At a press conference after the Summit, Von der Leyen emphasized that progress on the path to EU accession must come when reforms are implemented.

"And that's exactly what we want to do - to reward reforms with real integration, for example access to our programmes, closer links to the single market and EU funding that rewards reforms," ​​she said at a press conference with the head of state. Jakov Milatović and President of the European Council Antonio Kosta.

Von der Leyen said that if she had to sum up the summit in two words, they would be - determination and trust.

"Determination - that the European future of the Western Balkans be concretized as quickly as possible. Confidence - that our Union will grow in the years to come. And yes, Montenegro will become the 28th member by 2028 - and that is achievable," she underlined, adding that she encouraged Montenegro to maintain the good spirit and pace it has shown, as well as its ambition and determination.

"We hope that Albania will follow quickly and that the entire region will continue to move closer to our union," von der Leyen said.

When asked by journalists whether the pace of closing negotiation chapters in Montenegro has slowed down and whether the goal of closing all chapters by the end of the year is still achievable, she replied that the speed with which Montenegro is implementing reforms is impressive, but also that everyone is working in the same direction and goal - the president, the prime minister and the parliament.

Metsola: two more chapters until summer

President of the European Parliament Robert Metsol She told reporters ahead of the Summit that she hopes Montenegro will close at least two more chapters by the summer, assessing that this would open up a different perspective for other countries in the region.

She stated that the negotiation process with each candidate country is separate and distinct, and that therefore "talks are always necessary, and dialogue is also important."

Montenegro has so far (provisionally) closed 14 chapters, out of a total of 33.

French President Emanuel Macron He told reporters that the goal of European partners is to help Montenegro fulfill its obligations and for the country to integrate (into the EU) as quickly as possible.

"The integration process will make Montenegro even more progressive and a member of our European family," Macron said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz He said that the EU must show that it is willing and ready to expand. He said that European enlargement is years late, and that he discussed with Macron the next steps for the Western Balkan countries to join the Union.

"This part of Europe is, in perspective, part of the EU. Although we have not admitted a single country for 13 years, we can say that the EU has made some of its own mistakes...", assessed Merc.

Košta: Counting down to expansion

Antonio Košta stated that among the important milestones that show momentum in the enlargement process is that last month the EU began drafting the accession treaty with Montenegro.

"For the first time since 2013, we are truly counting down to the next enlargement - to Montenegro becoming the 28th member by 2028," said Košta.

He called on all Western Balkan partners to seize the opportunity and the current momentum and take all necessary steps to accelerate their progress on the EU path. He stressed that the full alignment of Western Balkan partners with the EU's common foreign and security policy remains a key indicator of unity.

"The Western Balkans are an integral part of the future of the EU. Their accession remains our priority and a key geopolitical investment," the President of the European Council stressed.

Milatović: We have shown that we behave as a member

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović said that the integration of the country would send a strong signal to all candidate countries that the European dream is alive, real, that the effort is worth it, and that the enlargement policy remains one of the most successful EU policies.

According to him, Montenegro is ready to fulfill its remaining obligations and to take advantage of the momentum given to it by its European partners.

"Montenegro has the opportunity to achieve the great goal of our generation - to transform the independence we restored 20 years ago into a well-governed, just and economically strong state," said Milatović.

Montenegro's position is different from other candidates

Commenting on the Franco-German non-paper (informal diplomatic document) presented yesterday, Milatović said that he believes it is constructive, but that the case of Montenegro is unique.

"The accession treaty is already being written for us and I think our position is different," he said.

Košta reminded that several proposals are being heard and that there is talk of models to make the accession process more efficient, but he also stated that "Montenegro's position is different."

The Franco-German document, titled "A new impetus to contribute to enlargement ahead of the upcoming EU-Western Balkans Summit (June 5, 2026) and the EU-Moldova Summit (June 22, 2026)", states that enlargement remains one of the most attractive offers and most influential political instruments that the Union has.

The document was presented at the Summit yesterday, and among other things, it was proposed that candidate countries for membership should gradually achieve privileges, such as partial access to the bloc's single market, in order to remain motivated while they wait for full membership.

It is also envisaged that potential EU members may also receive observer status at key meetings, as well as other benefits, in order to avoid disappointment in the process.

The idea is to "bring candidate countries closer to the EU effectively through more structured gradual integration, thereby providing additional incentives for reforms."

Plenković sets out Croatia's conditions for support for closing chapters

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković told reporters in Tivat, ahead of the Summit, that Montenegro has made the most progress in negotiations with the EU and that he therefore has expectations regarding open issues between the two countries.

He reiterated that Croatia's position is clearly mapped out here and that there are preconditions that, if met, lead to further progress in chapters 31 (foreign, security and defence policy), 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice, freedom and security).

Croatia blocked Montenegro from closing Chapter 31 at the end of 2024, demanding the resolution of several open issues.

Plenković said that the topic of compensation for former Croatian camp inmates from Morinje is one of the key issues, and another is to continue work on finding the 14 missing (from the war).

"The third is that Montenegro should continue to prosecute war criminals, the fourth is to resolve the property rights issues of Croatian families here, who have been left without their property. This process is going quite slowly," he said.

He also said that the issue of the name of the city swimming pool in Kotor, the return of the training ship "Jadran" should be resolved, and that "talks about the border, which have been ongoing for many years, should finally be initiated."