The key facts

  • Merz: Montenegro is 'on the best path' to joining the EU soon, with others to follow
  • Enlargement was called a geopolitical imperative amid Russia's war against Ukraine
  • Disputes with Croatia over two chapters, in Merz's assessment, will not become an obstacle

Merz on Montenegro's EU accession

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that Montenegro is moving toward joining the European Union in the near future. He spoke after the Berlin Process summit hosted by Montenegro and stressed that the Western Balkans' path to the EU must become irreversible.

Enlargement as a geopolitical necessity

Merz called EU enlargement a geopolitical imperative so that the region does not turn into an arena of struggle between major powers for influence. 'Montenegro is on the best path to joining the EU soon. Others must and will follow,' he said. He linked the urgency to Russia's war against Ukraine, noting that only a shared perspective within the single European market and the EU's institutions can ensure lasting stability.

Disputes with Croatia

The open bilateral issues between EU member Croatia and candidate Montenegro concern two remaining negotiating chapters. Merz said these issues were discussed at the EU summit in Brussels the previous Thursday, and that he himself had spoken about them directly with the Croatian Prime Minister. 'I know that a very intensive and constructive discussion is underway between Montenegro and Croatia on these two remaining topics,' Merz said. According to him, Montenegro has already made concrete decisions that pave the way forward, and he is confident that Croatia's final reservations can be resolved: 'I do not consider them significant enough to stand in the way of Montenegro's EU membership,' he added, noting that both prime ministers share this assessment.