Von der Leyen: Montenegro’s EU success would send strong signal to Western Balkans

“The finish line is in sight,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Podgorica, adding that Montenegro’s success on its path to the EU would send a strong message to the entire Western Balkans.

She praised the country’s progress in implementing reforms and said the European Union was also preparing for the accession of a new member, CE Report quotes STA.

“We believe in Montenegro as the 28th EU member by 2028,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.

Montenegro is currently making the fastest progress among EU candidate countries. This year, it has already provisionally closed 18 negotiating chapters, with more expected to be closed at an intergovernmental conference in the middle of this month.

According to von der Leyen, completing the process will require continued political stability, broad support from political parties, strong relations with EU member states, and resilience against attempts to divide and polarise society.

“But the finish line is in sight,” she said, adding that crossing it would send a strong signal to the entire Western Balkans.

She also congratulated Montenegro on implementing reforms under the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. More than €380 million is available to Montenegro under the plan, of which €89 million has so far been disbursed.

The European Commission president also stressed that enlargement is a two-way process.

“You are preparing, and so are we,” she said.

The European Commission will therefore present a review of pre-enlargement policies next week, according to von der Leyen, to ensure that the EU is prepared to welcome a new member.

The accession process will continue to be based on the merits of candidate countries, but this does not mean it has to be slow, von der Leyen said. The Commission will therefore prepare roadmaps for the most advanced candidates, including Montenegro, setting out concrete steps, tasks and deadlines on the path to membership.

Spajić said the results of the work carried out so far were visible and that the country was almost at the finish line. He stressed that the government was not easing its efforts but was even more focused on achieving its goal.

According to Spajić, Montenegro has already submitted most of the chapters to the European Commission for review, after which they will also be assessed by the EU member states.

“We are ready for assessments and criticism, because it is in Montenegro’s interest to implement the best possible reforms,” he said.

He expressed optimism that Montenegro would close all negotiating chapters by the end of 2026.

“In any case: 2028, here we come – the 28th member by 2028,” he concluded.

Photo X/vonderleyen