During his official visit to Poland, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans, stressing that Montenegro has a real opportunity to become the 28th member state of the European Union by 2028, BTA reports.
Milatović spoke to students from the College of Europe in Warsaw, where he noted that it is essential for his country to use these new geopolitical conditions to fulfill its ambitious goal.
Montenegro as a leader in the EU enlargement process
Milatović stressed that Montenegro is among the most advanced candidates for EU membership among the Western Balkan countries. He indicated that the country has a chance to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2026, having fulfilled all the necessary conditions, and to become part of the European Union in 2028. This is an ambitious goal, but he believes it is achievable thanks to Montenegro's additional commitment and the support it receives from the European Union.
Montenegro applied for EU membership in December 2008 and was granted candidate status in 2010. Negotiations began in 2012 and since then the country has been actively working to meet the accession criteria.
Geopolitical importance of EU enlargement
President Milatović pointed out that the future of the Western Balkans should be not only part of the European Union, but also of an integrated Europe based on common values and interests. He emphasized that in the context of the war in Ukraine and the new geopolitical circumstances, EU enlargement is no longer just a matter of economic or political unification, but also of security.
The new dynamics open up additional opportunities for Montenegro to accelerate its path to EU membership.
During his visit to Poland, Milatović also met with Polish leaders Andrzej Duda and Donald Tusk and participated in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.