Montenegro is ready to assume the responsibilities of European Union membership and contribute to the bloc’s future, President Jakov Milatović told the European Parliament on Tuesday, describing the current period as a historic moment for both his country and the EU’s enlargement policy.
Welcoming Milatović to Parliament, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “This is Europe’s enlargement moment, and Montenegro is leading the way. Enlargement is not an act of charity – it is an investment in a stronger, safer and more prosperous Europe.”
Addressing MEPs, Milatović urged the EU to demonstrate that reforms, democratic development and strategic consistency have their rightful place within the European project.
He said Montenegro was prepared to contribute to European policies, “bind its future to the common European future”, and become the 28th member state of the European Union.
Milatović noted that Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed 16, while the Council has already begun work on the draft accession treaty. However, he acknowledged that further work remains, particularly on strengthening the rule of law, independent institutions and an efficient public administration.
Reflecting on Montenegro’s independence in 2006, Milatović said the country had chosen to build a “European, democratic, civic and open Montenegro”, describing its European path as more than a foreign policy objective and instead “a steadfast foundation of values”.
While acknowledging setbacks and periods when reforms progressed more slowly than citizens and European partners had expected, he said public support for the European idea had remained strong because citizens viewed it as the route to a better future.
Montenegro began EU accession negotiations in 2012. All 33 negotiating chapters have been opened and 16 have been provisionally closed. The country’s negotiating team aims to conclude accession talks by the end of 2026. The European Parliament is due to vote on a report assessing Montenegro’s EU accession progress on Wednesday.
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://iwpost.com/montenegro-ready-to-assume-eu-membership-responsibilities-president-tells-meps/&media=https://iwpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/14180-montenegro-ready-to-assume-eu-membership-responsibilities-president-tells-meps.jpg&description=Montenegro is ready to assume the responsibilities of European Union membership and contribute to the bloc's future, President Jakov Milatović told the European Parliament on Tuesday, describing the current period as a historic moment for both his country and the EU's enlargement policy. Welcoming Milatović to Parliament, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: "This is…){kind=link}