Sourced fact
The News
Germany expressed optimism on Thursday regarding Montenegro's aspirations to join the European Union. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stated that Montenegro's ambition to join the EU "is heard in Brussels and in all European capitals." During his visit to Montenegro to participate in an annual meeting of EU foreign ministers as part of the Berlin Process, Maas praised Montenegro's progress towards EU membership, saying it "sets an example for other countries in the Western Balkans." Maas noted that countries aspiring to join the EU and capable of meeting the standards can achieve their goals in the coming years.
During a meeting with his Montenegrin counterpart, Dritan Abazović, Maas emphasized the importance of regional cooperation for reconciliation and reforms. He also attended meetings in the coastal city of Budva with European Commission enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi. Montenegro is among the first candidate countries for EU membership, having started its efforts since 2002, separated from Serbia in 2006, and joined NATO in 2017. According to opinion polls, public support for Montenegro's EU membership stands at around 80%.
Montenegro aims to become the 28th member of the EU by 2028, striving to achieve this goal through progress in economic and democratic reforms. This progress could allow it to complete technical negotiations with the EU by the end of this year, making the deadline seem realistic. However, Kosovo faces greater challenges in its path to EU membership due to the refusal of five EU member states to recognize its independence from Serbia.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Analytically, Montenegro's progress in joining the EU is significant for the European Union and its member states, reflecting its commitment to European standards and the desire to achieve stability and prosperity in the region. In a broader context, Western Balkan countries face significant challenges in their path to EU membership, including political, economic, and social tensions. However, the progress Montenegro has made offers hope to other countries in the region that they may be able to achieve their goals in the near future.
