Serbia and Montenegro chart new multipolar course in the Balkans

Serbia’s economy is increasingly integrated into European production chains, with German firms operating factories in cities such as Pančevo, Novi Sad, Niš and Čačak. The country is positioned as a near‑shoring hub for the EU, offering logistical efficiency and lower production costs. At the same time, a variety of external actors—including China, the United States, Gulf investors, Turkey and Russia—are expanding their presence in the region, reducing the EU’s exclusive influence.

In Montenegro, the EU‑West Balkans summit held in Tivat highlighted a renewed political unity. President Jakov Milatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić presented a coordinated pro‑EU stance, prompting positive remarks from European leaders and the Spanish premier’s tourism invitation. The European Tourism Commission named Montenegro a leading destination, and EU officials signaled the possible closure of two accession negotiation chapters in June and two more in July, underscoring a “dividend of credibility” for the country.

Political commentary in Serbia contrasts President Aleksandar Vučić’s infrastructure and economic initiatives with former Montenegrin leader Milo Đukanović’s era, which is characterized as marked by privatization, economic decline and alleged discrimination against the Serbian Orthodox community. The analysis emphasizes the divergent governance models shaping the Balkan’s political and economic landscape.