Will Montenegro join the EU by 2028?
Posted by Dreadscythe95@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 37 comments
Is it truly realistic? What do Montenegrins in here really think?
Wil this also be good for Serbia? Will it push the towards the EU?
mrbrightside-987@reddit
If Bulgaria and Romania got reason to join and we know why :) Then Montenegro is joining for same one.
Stealthfighter21@reddit
Not at all. What geopolitical importance does Montenegro have?
mrbrightside-987@reddit
Adriatic
kaiser_vfe@reddit
And how is a lil to no land on the Adriatic strategically important? Albania, sure, but Montenegro?
mrbrightside-987@reddit
Well if you let this lil part of territory free then Russian or other party can set up base for their interest. You dont want to risk someone having open space for that small amount of hussle, just think little bit
Crafty_Village5404@reddit
It can be ready to join, but the EU will find a way to delay indefinitely until it knows better what it wants.
When_I_ate_hamzz2344@reddit
In the last few months, it's been abundantly clear that the EU, and UvL specifically, are willing to die on the hill of Western Balkans accession. That's the thrust of the entire Western Balkans framework, that changes the way chapters open and close. From a chess pieces on the board perspective, what they want is absolutely clear. Whether they can reform the vote to circumvent the EU's malignant countries is another question
Crafty_Village5404@reddit
Interesting.
You single out Hungary, the EU's punching bag, and not Austria, Netherlands and Czech. All of these consistently stated that they are against any expansion until their requirements are met.
And what proof do you have for the statement that "it's been abundantly clear that the EU, and UvL specifically, are willing to die on the hill of Western Balkans accession"?
From Serbia's perspective the EU doesn't really care about the region as long as there's not major fire to put out - the hills they are currently dying on are the Ukraine war, and the immigration crackdown.
_skala_@reddit
As a Czech, I hear this fist time.
toshu@reddit
Yes, I bet they'll be next to join on 1 January 2028. They should wrap up the negotiations next year and then they're unlikely to face any veto for accession.
Rough-Stress6885@reddit
Montenegro was to enter the Eurozone at the same time because they use the Euro unilaterally.
toshu@reddit
They still have to consistently adhere to the Eurozone convergence criteria (inflation, govt budget deficit & debt, interest rates) and make legislative changes. Likely they would have to spend at least two years in the ERM II "waiting room" because of this? It's all very unclear with Montengro and the Eurozone.
Comprehensive-Yam450@reddit
I think they will join, next will probably be Albania… In some future maybe macedonia… i am not optimistic about rest.. Serbia is going downhill in every way.
ProductGuy48@reddit
I think Montenegro should be January 1st 2027 and Albania January 1st 2028, but given how political every vote is now they may get delayed because some hypocrites like Hungary or Slovakia veto them
_Snakedog_@reddit
Hungary wouldnt veto Montenegro thats for sure. Montenegro's pm met with Orban this summer as i remember and they agreed that Hungary will help Montenegro to get into the Eu faster. It was posted on Orbán's insta page. Also our diplomatic relations with Albania are pretty good so we wouldnt veto them either. And in '26 we're gonna have the Hungarian elections and theres a great chance that Fidesz will lose and a more pro-Eu party will govern.
Tomorr3@reddit
Is that actually realistic?
_Snakedog_@reddit
Realistic, but thats not equal to good
Stealthfighter21@reddit
Albania literally started negotiations at the end of 2024. In what universe can it become a member in 3 years?
When_I_ate_hamzz2344@reddit
We're about to close the last of the 35 chapters this month. The new Western Balkans framework makes the chapter open/close process much more efficiently worked-through https://wbif.eu/about/about-wbif
Stealthfighter21@reddit
Good. That way they'll stop talking about the supposed quick accession of my country.
cybran3@reddit
Open sure, but how many to close, and how many of them are closed/fulfilled in total?
Tomorr3@reddit
In a universe where russia attacks Ukraine.
Stealthfighter21@reddit
Nope, not at that geographical location.
Tomorr3@reddit
Only time will tell
Kushesollidoro@reddit
Orban is very pro Weatern Balkans in Eu, not sure about Slovakia
notmyaccountbruh@reddit
No. There is no appetite for enlargement within the Member States.
rydolf_shabe@reddit
As long as they dont have any major issues in the future i believe that Montenegro will be next on the list of countries to join the EU
we sure as hell wont join. if albania, with this level of corruption and organized crime, joins the EU, then im 100% that the EU is going to shit.
SnooSuggestions4926@reddit
MON-TE-NEGRO
Puzzleheaded_Sir903@reddit
I don't know if it is realistic. I stopped caring about dates EU (or anyone else) mentions.
Montenegro joining EU has nothing to do with Serbia.
Fickle-Message-6143@reddit
I think that no country will join EU until EU reforms itself.
When_I_ate_hamzz2344@reddit
I think we in the Western Balkans are so small and inconsequential to Orban et. al that at worst they'll be bought off cheaply by the EU, and at best will go along with accession. It doesn't make a lot of sense to hold up the process.
Kushesollidoro@reddit
This argument has been said 1000 times and that is not the case. There is no veto reform, it will never be
Dreadscythe95@reddit (OP)
Yeah this makes sense. It's the veto and the lack of actual voting for central covernance that creates a lot of functionality problems.
cressida0x0@reddit
Albania (not sure about MNE) is economically and socio-politically not ready, and won't be ready for another 15 years, but they will probably join because of EU outer politics and the geopolitical state of Europe at the moment (Ukraine conflict mostly). The people parroting the same "they will delay it again" nonsense don't know what they are talking about.
No-Championship-4632@reddit
I'd say by 2030.
Mako2401@reddit
Montenegro and Albania will be ready to join, but when will the EU accept them is another question entirely.
Nothing_Special_23@reddit
I won't say "no way, no chance" (in today's world literally anything can happen tomorrow), but I highly, highly, highy, highly doubt it.