Montenegro on track to join EU as 28th member by 2028

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 5 Nov, 06:11 · Archive

The European Commission says Montenegro could conclude accession negotiations by end of 2026 and join the EU in 2028.

The European Commission said on Wednesday that Montenegro could conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2026, paving the way for the Balkan country to become the EU's 28th member state in 2028. This would be the first accession concluded since Croatia joined in 2011.

Montenegro, with a population of 630,000, must still implement reforms particularly in fundamental rights and financial services to meet EU requirements. The Commission said the country had demonstrated sustained efforts on the European path. Once negotiations close, an accession treaty could be signed by June 2027 and then requires ratification by all 27 current member states to become effective in 2028.

President Jakov Milatovic expressed confidence in the timeline, saying "We can achieve it. I am optimistic about it." The Commission stressed that Montenegro must maintain steady focus in the coming weeks and months on completing preparations, sustaining reforms and ensuring continuous cross-party support for its EU path.

Albania, Ukraine and Moldova are also considered frontrunners among candidate countries. Other Western Balkan nations including Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo are at different stages of the accession process.

How it is being reported

• The country of 630,000 on track to become the EU’s 28th member stateThe EU says Montenegro is the candidate country that is closest to membershipIndependent World · 5 Nov, 05:43
• The country of 630,000 on track to become the EU's 28th member stateThe EU says Montenegro is the candidate country that is closest to membershipIndependent World · 4 Nov, 15:41
• EU says Montenegro on track to become bloc's next member state by 2028Brussels says Montenegro is likely to become the EU's 28th member state, followed by Albania and Moldova. It said Ukraine needed to speed up reforms and offered fresh hope to Serbia following elections last month.DW News · 4 Nov, 14:49

In this story: Montenegro · European Union · European Commission · Jakov Milatovic · Podgorica · Croatia

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