Montenegro could become the European Union’s 28th member in 2028, according to a roadmap presented by the European Commission. Brussels believes the country can conclude its accession negotiations this year, complete a draft treaty in spring and sign it in June. The final government conference with Podgorica is planned for December.
Montenegro has closed 21 of the 33 chapters involved in its accession talks. Three more are expected to close next week, with the remaining chapters targeted for completion by the end of the year. If the timetable holds, Montenegro would be the first country to join the EU in 15 years.
The Commission has also published roadmaps for Albania, Moldova and Ukraine, the leading candidates among the ten countries seeking membership. The plans identify milestones for the coming year. Albania has closed four chapters and aims to complete the rest by the end of 2027. The Commission describes its goal of finishing negotiations next year as ambitious but achievable, provided the country maintains its reform pace.
Brussels says Albania needs further progress on judicial reform and efforts against corruption and organized crime. It also called for stronger dialogue with civil society and action on environmental reforms, including projects that it says breach EU environmental requirements.
Moldova has been praised for making the fastest reform progress among candidate countries, particularly in the judiciary and anti-corruption efforts. It aims to conclude negotiations in early 2028, a target the Commission considers ambitious but feasible. The roadmap also provides for closer ties with the EU in areas including energy, transport and digital connectivity, as well as improved access to the bloc’s single market.
Accession talks with Moldova and Ukraine began in June, and negotiations are now underway in four of six policy clusters. The Commission hopes to open the remaining two in December. The two countries’ processes are still politically linked, but could be separated because Moldova is implementing reforms faster while Ukraine is at war.
Ukraine aims to conclude negotiations by the end of 2028, though the Commission says it would need to accelerate reforms. It cited remaining work on the rule of law, democratic institutions, public administration and minority protection, while describing the country’s anti-corruption bodies as independent and effective. The Commission also highlighted Ukraine’s experience in addressing security threats and its potential contribution to Europe’s defence industry.
The Commission stressed that signing an accession treaty would not guarantee membership. New rules presented in October are intended to protect the EU against democratic or rule-of-law backsliding before accession or during a member state’s first 15 years in the bloc.
Sources: FAZ.