Montenegro Is Closest Balkan Country to EU Membership
Montenegro is currently the Western Balkan country closest to joining the European Union, while the region’s other candidates remain far from membership, European Parliament member Davor Ivo Stier said.
Stier said Montenegro has made the most progress in opening and closing negotiating chapters. He believes the country could complete its accession negotiations during the current terms of the European Commission and European Parliament, which run through 2029.
Serbia’s EU Progress Has Stalled
Stier said Serbia has made no progress toward EU membership since February 2022, having neither opened nor closed any negotiating chapters.
He attributed the lack of progress not only to incomplete reforms but also to Serbia’s geopolitical orientation, which he said has prevented the country from moving closer to the West.
Normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo remains a central condition for Serbia’s European path. Stier said the EU is not demanding formal recognition of Kosovo but expects de facto normalization and implementation of obligations from the Brussels and Ohrid agreements.
Serbia is expected to stop blocking or lobbying against Kosovo’s membership in international organizations. Kosovo, meanwhile, is expected to establish an association of municipalities with a Serb majority.
Stier said neither side has fulfilled those obligations and warned that continued tensions could escalate.
Montenegro Could Complete Talks by 2029
Stier said Montenegro is closest to EU membership both formally and in terms of its progress on the substance of accession negotiations.
However, he said the country would need to distance itself from the influence of the “Serbian World” to complete the process.
Albania still has significant work to do in fighting corruption and strengthening the rule of law, while the remaining Western Balkan countries are also far from membership.
Stier said EU enlargement returned to the political agenda following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he cautioned that the path from candidate status to full membership remains long and that rapid enlargement should not be expected.
He proposed gradual integration as a way to bring Western Balkan societies closer to the EU before full membership. Countries could progressively join European markets, policies and initiatives, including the EU’s roaming-free area.
