Press release - President Milatović: Montenegro is ready to be the next member of the EU

President Milatović: Montenegro is ready to be the next member of the EU Speaking to MEPs on Tuesday, Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović highlighted his country’s readiness to assume the responsibilities of an EU member state. Welcoming President Milatović, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: "This is Europe's enlargement moment, and Montenegro is leading the way. Enlargement is not an act of charity – it is an investment in a stronger, safer and more prosperous Europe." Addressing MEPs, President Milatović said that we are in a historic moment, not only for Montenegro but also for the EU’s enlargement policy. He urged the EU to demonstrate that reforms, democratic development and strategic consistency have their rightful place within the European project. Milatović assured MEPs that Montenegro is ready to contribute to European policies, to “bind its future to the common European future”, and to become the 28th member state of the European Union. Highlighting Montenegro’s opening of all 33 negotiating chapters and provisional closure of 16, and noting that the Council has already begun work on the draft accession treaty, Milatović acknowledged that “there is still work to be done”. He cited as examples, the rule of law, independent institutions and an efficient public administration. Looking back at Montenegro’s independence in 2006, the president said that the country made the choice to build a “European, democratic, civic and open Montenegro”, adding that the European path has never been solely a foreign policy objective, but rather “a steadfast foundation of values”. While acknowledging that there have been “setbacks” and periods in which “reforms took longer than our citizens and our European partners expected”, Milatović stressed that the European idea has remained strong because citizens have recognised it as the path towards a better future. Background Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations began in 2012. All 33 negotiating chapters have been opened, and seven have been provisionally closed. The Montenegrin negotiating team has set itself the ambitious goal of closing negotiations by the end of 2026. On Wednesday, MEPs will also vote on a report assessing Montenegro’s EU accession progress. The speech is available online (16.6.2026) Contacts: - Estefanía NARRILLOS Press Officer / Editorial Coordinator (ES) - Andreas KLEINER Press Officer / Editorial Coordinator (DE)