EU–Western Balkans Summit in Tivat
The EU–Western Balkans Summit in Tivat united European leaders in strong support of Montenegro’s integration, reinforcing optimism that the country is on track to become the Union’s next member state
Tivat hosted one of the most significant international events in Montenegro’s modern political history – the EU–Western Balkans Summit, organised under the auspices of the President of Montenegro. For the first time during its accession negotiations, Montenegro welcomed leaders of European Union Member States, heads of European institutions and representatives of countries from across the region, reaffirming its role as the frontrunner in European integration in the Western Balkans.
The President’s Adviser for European Affairs, Miloš Radonjić, specified that the Summit had sent a strong message portray10 ing Montenegro as a European success story and a country with the capacity to bring together European partners around shared objectives. In addition to the official delegations, the event attracted extensive international media coverage, further underscoring the significance of the gathering and the interest of the European public in the enlargement process.
The official programme included a plenary session and a series of bilateral meetings between leaders, while a formal dinner for high-level guests was hosted on the eve of the Summit. In doing so, Montenegro showcased not only its political capacities but also its tourism and cultural potentials.
Key Messages from the Summit
• Montenegro hosted the EU-Western Balkans Summit for the first time during its accession negotiations.
• Tivat brought together leaders of EU Member States, the Western Balkan countries, and the highest-ranking European officials.
• The European Commission described Montenegro’s progress as “impressive”.
• The enlargement of the European Union and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans were at the centre of discussions.
• European leaders reaffirmed that the future of the region lies within the European Union.
Alongside the diplomatic activities, a rich cultural and entertainment programme was held on Tivat’s Pine waterfront, featuring performances by local artists and presentations by successful Montenegrin entrepreneurs whose projects have been supported through European Union funding programmes.
The central themes of the discussions were the enlargement policy and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, an instrument through which the European Union seeks to accelerate the region’s economic convergence with the European market and EU standards.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated that Montenegro had achieved impressive progress on its European path and expressed the expectation that the negotiating chapters could be closed by the end of the year or early next year, thereby paving the way for the conclusion of the Accession Treaty.
A similar message was conveyed by President of the European Council António Costa, who emphasised that the European Union is following Montenegro’s progress with optimism and that enlargement remains one of the Union’s key geopolitical priorities.
President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović assessed that the Summit had reaffirmed the country’s European perspective and demonstrated a high level of political maturity and unity with regard to the strategic objective of membership in the European Union.
Montenegro One Step Away from the Final Stage of Negotiations
According to the messages conveyed by European officials at the Summit, Montenegro remains the most advanced candidate for European Union membership among the countries of the Western Balkans. Should reforms continue at the planned pace, the closure of all negotiating chapters and the commencement of the final phase of the accession process are expected. Such expectations have further strengthened the belief that Montenegro could become the next member of the European Union in the second half of this decade.