EU Pushes Western Balkans Membership Drive as Leaders Gather in Montenegro Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

By Zoey

European leaders and heads of government from across the European Union and the Western Balkans gathered in Montenegro on Friday for a high-level summit focused on accelerating the bloc’s enlargement process, with growing concerns over security.

Economic competition and geopolitical influence from Russia and China driving renewed urgency behind expansion efforts.

The EU-Western Balkans summit, held in the Adriatic coastal town of Tivat, brought together some of Europe’s most influential leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and representatives from countries seeking membership in the European Union.

At the center of discussions was Montenegro’s bid to become the next member of the 27-nation bloc. European officials have increasingly signaled that the small Balkan nation is closer than ever to achieving membership, with Brussels already establishing a working group tasked with preparing an accession treaty. The move is widely viewed as one of the clearest indications yet that Montenegro’s long-standing ambitions could soon become reality.

The summit comes at a time when European leaders are reassessing the strategic importance of enlargement. A series of challenges, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, economic competition with China, migration pressures, energy security concerns and growing fears over hybrid threats targeting European institutions, have strengthened support among many member states for bringing more countries into the bloc.

European officials argue that expanding the EU would not only enlarge the single market and create new economic opportunities but also strengthen the continent’s collective security architecture. By integrating Western Balkan nations more closely into European political and economic structures, the bloc hopes to reduce external influence in a region long regarded as strategically significant.

Over recent years, the European Union has repeatedly encouraged Western Balkan countries to undertake reforms aimed at improving governance, strengthening democratic institutions and tackling corruption. Brussels views these reforms as essential conditions for membership while also helping candidate countries modernize their economies and public institutions.

Security concerns have become an increasingly important factor in enlargement discussions. With conflicts continuing in Ukraine and instability affecting parts of the Middle East, European governments have intensified efforts to enhance defense cooperation and military preparedness.

Concerns that the United States may play a less dominant role in European security affairs in the future have further encouraged EU members to seek greater unity and resilience within the continent.

Ahead of the summit, European Council President Antonio Costa conducted a tour of several Western Balkan countries to reinforce the bloc’s commitment to enlargement. During a visit to Serbia, Costa emphasized that the European Union was exploring ways to accelerate accession procedures for countries that demonstrate progress on reforms and alignment with EU standards.

Costa described enlargement as a strategic necessity rather than simply a political choice, arguing that greater European integration would strengthen stability and prosperity across the continent during a period marked by geopolitical uncertainty and economic volatility.

Among the Western Balkan candidates, Montenegro is widely regarded as the most advanced in the accession process. The country, which this week marked 20 years since regaining independence following the dissolution of its state union with Serbia, has steadily pursued closer integration with European institutions.

Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 and has since made EU membership its primary foreign policy objective. Government officials have set an ambitious target of joining the European Union by 2028, a goal that has become a national symbol. The slogan “28 by 28,” referring to Montenegro becoming the bloc’s 28th member in 2028, has been prominently promoted and even displayed on aircraft operated by the country’s national airline.

To secure membership, Montenegro must complete negotiations across 35 policy chapters covering a broad range of issues, from judicial reforms and anti-corruption measures to environmental standards, agriculture, fisheries and competition policy. Every chapter requires approval from all existing EU member states before it can be opened and again before it can be formally closed.

Montenegro’s progress is being closely watched by other aspiring members in the region, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia. Beyond the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova are also pursuing membership ambitions, while Iceland is preparing to hold a referendum in August on whether to formally seek accession.

Experts believe the Tivat summit could mark a turning point in the enlargement process. Analysts expect European leaders to discuss mechanisms that would allow candidate countries to benefit from closer integration before full membership while ensuring that reforms continue after accession.

The debate has taken on added significance following political developments within the EU itself. European policymakers have become increasingly focused on preventing future cases in which member states diverge from the bloc’s democratic standards after joining.

Discussions are therefore expected to include new safeguards that could allow Brussels to impose financial penalties or limit certain membership benefits if countries fail to uphold commitments related to the rule of law, democratic governance and institutional independence.

Policy experts argue that such measures are designed to balance the desire for faster enlargement with the need to preserve the EU’s core values. As the bloc prepares for what could become its most significant expansion in decades, leaders are seeking ways to ensure that new members remain aligned with European standards long after accession is completed.

The gathering in Montenegro reflects a broader shift in European thinking, with enlargement increasingly viewed not only as a tool for promoting stability in neighboring regions but also as a strategic response to an increasingly competitive and uncertain global landscape. For the Western Balkans, the summit represents another important step toward a future that many leaders in the region hope will ultimately culminate in full membership of the European Union.