European Officials Back Montenegro on Its Path to EU

Tivat, June 5 2026 {BETAPHOTO/European Council/Alexandros MICHAILIDIS}

European officials sent a message of support to Montenegro on its path to the European Union (EU) on June 5 in Tivat, where the European Union-Western Balkans Summit was being held.

French President Emmanuel Macron said EU leaders were in Tivat to support Montenegro as the next member. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the Union had to show that it was willing and ready for enlargement. He said European enlargement had been delayed for years and that he had discussed with Macron the next steps in the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the European Union.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said Montenegro was achieving excellent results and was close to its goal of becoming a member of the Union. “Montenegro is impressive and is achieving excellent results. Continue on this path and we are here to support you. I think you are close to the goal,” von der Leyen said.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told reporters that Montenegro had advanced the furthest in the European integration process among the countries of the region, but that there were open bilateral issues on which Zagreb expected progress.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the region needed more unity and a stronger political approach to the European integration process.