Marta Kos: Montenegro must resolve disputes with Croatia to advance in EU accession
The European Commissioner said unanimity among all 27 member states is needed for further progress and called signing the treaty by summer 2027 realistic.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said Montenegro must settle its outstanding bilateral disputes with Croatia if it wants to continue advancing toward European Union membership.
Kos noted that, while such disputes are not formally part of the EU negotiating chapters, further progress depends on the consent of all 27 member states.
Signing the accession treaty by summer 2027 and membership in 2028
She welcomed Montenegro’s progress in the integration process and described signing the accession treaty by the summer of 2027 as a realistic goal, with the ambition for the country to become an EU member in 2028. Kos also said recent constitutional amendments bring Montenegro closer to closing Chapter 23, which covers the judiciary and fundamental rights.
Addressing incidents of glorifying war criminals, Kos warned that “such phenomena have no place in the EU,” stressing that reconciliation and respect for victims are core European values.
She added that the upcoming Berlin Process summit in Budva will be an opportunity to further reinforce Montenegro’s European perspective.
Photo: press material from the event
