European Union Eyes 2028 Membership for Montenegro Amid Serbian Political Shift

The European Commission announced that Montenegro could finalize accession negotiations by the end of this year, potentially paving the way for the nation to become the European Union's 28th member by 2028. Officials noted that Montenegro has made significant progress, having opened all 33 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed 21. If member states reach an agreement, a formal membership treaty could be signed as early as June 2027.

This progress stands in contrast to the situation in neighboring Serbia, where the European Commission reported a lack of substantive advancement in accession talks. Serbia is currently navigating a period of political transition following the October 25 electoral defeat of longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party. The election results followed nearly two years of public protests, which were sparked by a 2024 railway station collapse in Novi Sad that resulted in 16 deaths and fueled widespread allegations of government corruption.