Italian Ambassador Andreina Marcella has used her farewell meeting with Montenegrin Finance Minister Novica Vuković to deliver a powerful message, Italy remains fully committed to the idea of European reunification, and Montenegro should be the European Union’s next member. The meeting, held as Marcella concludes her diplomatic mandate, was framed by both sides as a celebration of a partnership that has deepened significantly during her tenure. Vuković thanked the ambassador for her “dedicated engagement, friendly relationship towards Montenegro and the continuous support that Italy provided to its European path,” while Marcella stressed that the progress achieved is “the result of serious and dedicated reform work by Montenegrin institutions.”
The timing of the endorsement is politically significant. Montenegro is currently the most advanced candidate in the EU enlargement process, having provisionally closed 16 of 33 negotiating chapters as of June 2026, with all chapters opened. The country received a positive Interim Benchmark Assessment Report in June 2024, confirming it had met the critical rule of law benchmarks in Chapters 23 and 24 that had stalled progress for years. In May 2026, the EU approved an Ad Hoc Working Party to draft Montenegro’s accession treaty, a step that signals the bloc is preparing for the final legal phase of membership. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has set an ambitious target of completing negotiations by the end of 2026 and securing full membership by 2028, which would make Montenegro the EU’s 28th member state.
Italy has been the most vocal champion of this timeline. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Spajić during his April 2025 visit to Rome that she was “convinced that during Italy’s presidency of the EU, in the first half of 2028, Montenegro will become the 28th member.” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, during his own visit to Podgorica, affirmed that Italy views Montenegro as a “strategic partner” and pledged to “do everything to ensure you become an EU member as soon as possible.” The bilateral relationship extends beyond diplomatic rhetoric into concrete economic cooperation, including Italian investment in Montenegro’s undersea energy cable project, joint military exercises, and significant Italian tourism flows to the Montenegrin coast.
Marcella specifically praised the Ministry of Finance’s contribution to the negotiation process, calling Vuković’s department “an example of quality and responsible work in the European integration process.” The ministry has indeed been a driving force, closing the first negotiating chapter within its competence and actively participating in one third of the remaining chapters. Vuković has also spearheaded innovative domestic initiatives, including retail government bonds aimed at citizens, designed to deepen public trust in state finances while developing the local capital market. The ministry’s work on aligning Montenegro’s excise tax calendar with EU standards and combating illicit trade has drawn international recognition, including from the WHO.
Yet challenges remain. Seventeen chapters are still open, including sensitive areas like competition policy, transport, and customs union. The Parliament is set to vote on constitutional amendments required to close Chapters 23 and 24. And the EU’s “two tier” accession proposal, membership without full veto powers, remains a contentious model that Montenegro must navigate. For now, however, the message from Rome is unambiguous. As Marcella put it, Italy will continue to provide “full support to Montenegro’s European path.” For a small Balkan country that regained independence just 20 years ago, that support may prove the decisive factor in crossing the finish line.
