At the “EU-Western Balkans” summit in Tivat, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović expressed optimism about Montenegro’s potential accession to the European Union by 2028.
Milatović emphasized that Montenegro is already contributing to European unity, describing the summit as a significant signal for the nation. He stated that the period from 2023 to 2028 is now viewed as a national project for EU membership.
“We have demonstrated great maturity and made it clear that Montenegro is part of Europe. The summit highlighted the importance of expansion policy as a strategic investment,” Milatović remarked.
Costa revealed that the EU has begun drafting the Accession Treaty for Montenegro, marking the first such effort since 2013. He urged all candidate countries to seize this opportunity and align their policies with EU standards.
“The Western Balkans can count on our unwavering support. The region is part of Europe,” Costa added.
Von der Leyen praised the reforms underway in Montenegro and urged the country to finalize all chapters and clusters by the end of the year to facilitate the signing of the accession agreement and initiate the ratification process.
“The EU growth plan is crucial; we are opening part of the common market for companies in the region,” she stated.
She noted that if the entire region joins the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), local businesses could save around one billion euros. Another proposed step included eliminating roaming charges.
When asked about Serbia’s EU aspirations, von der Leyen insisted that necessary reforms must be implemented, calling them the cornerstone of the process. She assured that the European Commission would fulfill its commitments if Serbia meets the requirements.
Milatović and Costa also discussed the Franco-German proposal for a more efficient accession model, with both leaders agreeing that Montenegro’s situation is unique.
“A Treaty for our accession is already being drafted, and I believe our position is different,” Milatović stated.
Leaders at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat announced a target for Montenegro's EU accession by 2028, emphasizing the country's reforms and commitment to European integration. The discussions included support for regional cooperation and the importance of aligning with EU standards.