Montenegro slated to join EU by 2028, euro usage prompts formal zone debate

The European Union has presented Montenegro with a concrete timetable, indicating that the Balkan nation could become the 28th EU member state as early as 2028. This would be the first enlargement since Croatia entered the bloc in 2013. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Antonio Costa announced the proposal after the EU‑Balkans summit, highlighting a shift toward deeper engagement with the Union’s western neighbours.

Montenegro has been using the euro de facto since 2002, without a formal monetary agreement with the EU. While EU accession does not automatically confer euro‑zone membership, officials note that a legal framework would be needed for Montenegro to join the euro area, with a realistic timeline pointing to around 2031. Formal entry would grant the country participation in ECB decision‑making and integration into the Eurosystem, but it would not require a change of currency for citizens.

The dual discussion underscores the EU’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with the Western Balkans amid shifting global geopolitics, while also addressing the unique monetary situation of a non‑Eurozone state that already operates with the euro.