Montenegro Takes Center Stage in EU’s “Not Charity, Just Good Business” Pitch
Montenegro is having its main character moment in Brussels, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola isn’t holding back the compliments. “This is Europe’s enlargement moment, and Montenegro is leading the way,” she declared, before dropping what might be the EU’s new tagline: “Enlargement is not an act of charity – it is an investment in a stronger, safer and more prosperous Europe.” Translation: We’re not doing you a favor; we actually want you here.
President Milatović rolled into the European Parliament with receipts, reminding MEPs that Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed 16 – basically the EU membership equivalent of being a straight-A student who also plays three sports. The country is gunning to wrap up negotiations by the end of 2026, which in EU timeline terms is practically lightning speed.
But Milatović kept it real, admitting there’s “still work to be done” on pesky details like rule of law, independent institutions, and efficient public administration – you know, the boring stuff that actually makes countries function.
Since declaring independence in 2006, Montenegro chose to build a “European, democratic, civic and open” nation, with EU membership never just a foreign policy checkbox but a “steadfast foundation of values.” Sure, there have been “setbacks” and reforms that moved slower than a Brussels bureaucratic process (which is saying something), but the dream stayed alive.
Montenegro is ready to “bind its future to the common European future” and become member state number 28. The accession treaty draft is already in the works, so start practicing your Montenegrin now – or at least figure out where it is on a map.