In a meeting with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic in Podgorica, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos encouraged Montenegro to accelerate its efforts to conclude EU accession negotiations by 2026.  

“Montenegro has a unique opportunity to finalize negotiations during my mandate. President Jakov Milatovic and Prime Minister Spajic have both confirmed that EU membership is a priority for their citizens,” Kos stated.  

She called on all political actors to align with public aspirations for EU membership, emphasizing that the country has no time to lose. “This is a historic moment, and I trust you to make it a reality,” she said, advocating for inclusive dialogue, reform progress, and parliamentary cooperation to resolve differences.  

The visit of Kos to Montenegro marks her first trip to the Western Balkans as EU Enlargement Commissioner. Montenegro remains the leading candidate for EU membership in the region and is well-positioned to become the next EU member state. Following significant progress in meeting rule-of-law benchmarks, the country has emerged from years of negotiation stagnation and is now working to close all remaining chapters in its accession process.

/k.s/