EU approves €3.2 billion pre‑accession package for Montenegro

The European Commission has adopted a financial package of roughly €3.2 billion for Montenegro, marking a concrete step toward the country’s EU membership. The package is linked to the opening of accession treaty negotiations and is designed to prepare Montenegro for full participation in the EU budget and policies.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the package is “another concrete step towards Montenegro’s future in our Union,” while EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos added that it will make the transition from candidate to member “as smooth as possible.” The plan assumes Montenegro will join the EU in 2028, after which it will both receive EU funding and contribute to the EU budget. Diplomatic sources estimate that the accession cost for current EU citizens would be under one euro per person per year.