The European Union could complete accession negotiations with Montenegro as early as the end of the year, paving the way for the Balkan country to become the bloc’s next member in 2028, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
“This demonstrates Montenegro’s sustained efforts to move forward on the European path and implement the necessary reforms to make EU membership a reality,” the EU executive said in its annual report on enlargement policy.
The EU said Montenegro was the favorite among the nine candidate countries currently seeking membership. The last country to join the bloc was Croatia in 2013.
“The significant progress made by some candidates over the last year allows us to deliver on the promise of enlargement,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Step by step, we are building a more complete and stronger Union.”
What needs to happen for Montenegro to become a member of the EU?
The commission said Montenegro, with a population of 630,000, still needs to implement a number of reforms, particularly in the areas of fundamental rights and financial services.
If negotiations are successful this year, an accession treaty could then be signed in June 2027, the report said.
The treaty is expected to be ratified by all 27 EU member states, which could allow accession to be finalized in 2028.
As part of accession negotiations, candidate countries must align their national laws and standards with EU requirements in areas ranging from environmental protection to human rights.
What is the status of the other candidates for EU membership?
The European Commission said in its report that Albania, Ukraine and Moldova were also making progress towards EU membership.
In its “road map” for the countries, it says Albania is about a year behind Montenegro and must continue to reform its justice system and fight organized crime and corruption in order to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2027.
The commission said Moldova’s goal of implementing necessary reforms by early 2028 was also “ambitious but achievable” if the country continues to make changes at the current pace.
He praised Ukraine for its progress, despite the Russian invasion, but added that kyiv must accelerate the pace of reforms to improve the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions.
Where is Serbia on the road to EU membership?
Progress has been slower in the case of candidate countries North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, the commission said.
But he also points out that Serbia’s accession talks could get a boost if the student movement that last month defeated longtime populist President Aleksandar Vucic forms a government willing to strengthen democracy.
“Now Serbia has the opportunity to make a new start,” Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told European parliamentarians on Wednesday.
“The new Serbian government has the opportunity to turn the page, strengthen democratic institutions and fundamental rights and take the necessary steps to move forward on Serbia’s path to membership,” she said.
Kosovo hopes to join the bloc but has not been granted candidate status.
Meanwhile, Georgia and Turkey are considered furthest from membership due to democratic backsliding.
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