MEPs welcome Montenegro´s ambitious plan to join the EU in 2028

Progress still needed on electoral and judicial reforms and the fight against organised crime and corruption

MEPs concerned by non-EU countries’ malign interference

Authorities should establish a single nationwide municipal election day to ease political tensions

Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs call for collective efforts in Montenegro to achieve political stability and continue to make substantial progress on reforms.

Montenegro has a leading regional position in the EU accession process, say MEPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee in a report adopted on Tuesday by 51 votes in favour and 7 against. Pointing to the overwhelming support of Montenegro’s citizens and the majority of political actors for joining the EU in 2028, they welcome country’s progress on enacting EU-related reforms and measures, “underpinned by an ambitious timeline”.

Political stability is important for continued progress on reforms

The MEPs call for state institutions to coordinate efforts to achieve political stability and continue their substantial progress with the reforms, in particular electoral and judicial reforms and the fight against organised crime and corruption. The report welcomes Montenegro’s sustained full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including EU restrictive measures, among others those relating to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and commends Montenegro for its support for the international rules-based order at the level of the United Nations.

Fight against malign foreign interference

The parliamentarians are also seriously concerned by non-EU countries’ malign interference, destabilisation efforts, cyber-attacks, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns, including attempts to influence political processes and public opinion in Montenegro. These discredit the EU and undermine the country’s progress on its accession path. Noting that religious institutions can be used as a tool for external influence, they condemn any undue interference by the Serbian Orthodox Church in this regard and stress the importance of building resilience capabilities against foreign information manipulation and interference.

Electoral legal framework to be aligned with EU standards

MEPs call on Montenegro to fully align its electoral legal framework with EU standards, notably as regards harmonising election legislation, transparency, campaign and media oversight, and political party and election campaign financing. They also urge the Montenegrin authorities to establish a single nationwide municipal election day, in order to enhance governance efficiency and reduce political tensions, and point out that this reform step is a condition for future disbursement of funds under the Reform and Growth Facility.

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The rapporteur Marjan Šarec (Renew, SL) said: “We welcome Montenegro’s clear progress on its path towards the European Union, as it remains the leading candidate country among the Western Balkan states. At the same time, we underline the importance of effective reforms in key areas such as media freedom, electoral legislation, and the fight against corruption and organised crime. We also note with satisfaction that the people of Montenegro continue to recognise the benefits of the European path, as reflected in the consistently high public support for EU membership. This confirms that the EU accession process is not just a political objective, but also a broader societal commitment, grounded in trust in European values and standards.”