Montenegro moves closer to EU membership as accession model evolves

Montenegro, a small Balkan state that has used the euro since 2002, is pursuing full EU membership with a target date of 2028. The accession process includes extensive reforms, the adoption of EU regulations, and the prospect of significant EU funding for infrastructure and development.

The European Union is treating Montenegro as a testing ground for its future enlargement policy. It was the first candidate to negotiate under the “fundamentals first” approach, to operate with interim benchmarks, and to receive a positive interim benchmarking assessment report (IBAR). An ad‑hoc EU working group is preparing the accession treaty, making Montenegro a blueprint for how future enlargements may be negotiated, safeguarded and sustained. The drive is framed by geopolitical considerations, especially the war in Ukraine, which underscores the strategic need to integrate aspiring democracies while addressing concerns about democratic backsliding after accession.