Long-standing tensions between Croatia and Montenegro over the disputed Prevlaka peninsula have resurfaced after renewed political statements from both sides, bringing one of the region’s oldest unresolved border issues back into the spotlight.
The dispute centers on the strategic peninsula at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor. While Croatia considers the land border to be fully settled, Montenegro continues to argue that the maritime boundary should be determined through international arbitration or another mutually agreed legal mechanism.
Croatian officials have reiterated that Prevlaka is internationally recognized Croatian territory and insist that only the maritime delimitation remains open for discussion through bilateral negotiations. Montenegro, meanwhile, maintains that a permanent settlement should address both navigation rights and the maritime boundary in accordance with international law.
Although the two countries signed a provisional agreement in 2002 regulating the area after the withdrawal of the United Nations observer mission, a final border settlement has never been reached. The temporary regime has helped preserve stability for more than two decades, but negotiations on a permanent solution have made little progress.
The issue has gained additional significance in the context of Montenegro’s European Union accession process. Croatia has repeatedly stressed that unresolved bilateral matters should be addressed before Montenegro joins the EU, making the Prevlaka dispute one of the outstanding issues in relations between the two neighboring countries.
Despite the renewed exchange of positions, both Zagreb and Podgorica have continued to express support for resolving the dispute through peaceful dialogue and in line with international law, with officials on both sides emphasizing the importance of maintaining good neighborly relations.
