Slovak Foreign Minister Blanár Urges Accelerated EU Accession for Montenegro, Hailing it as Next Member

Slovakia Advocates for Montenegro's Swift EU Entry

Bratislava, Slovakia – Juraj Blanár, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, has publicly stated that Montenegro is on track to become the next member of the European Union. During a meeting with Montenegro's Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Filip Ivanović, on Thursday, November 27, 2025, Minister Blanár urged for an acceleration of Montenegro's accession process. He also announced a Slovak initiative aimed at streamlining the enlargement process by reducing certain administrative steps.

Blanár emphasized Slovakia's strong support for Montenegro's European aspirations, noting that 65 percent of Slovak citizens back Montenegro's entry into the EU. He highlighted that Montenegro's membership would send a 'strong message to other candidate countries that this goal is realistic and achievable.'

Montenegro's Advanced Integration Path

Montenegro officially applied for EU membership on December 15, 2008, with accession negotiations commencing on June 29, 2012. The nation is widely regarded as the frontrunner among current EU candidate countries. As of June 2024, Montenegro had opened all 33 negotiation chapters and provisionally closed 3. By June 2025, 26 out of 33 chapters remained to be closed.

Significant progress was noted in June 2024 when Montenegro met the interim benchmarks for Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom, and Security). The country is also expected to provisionally close three additional negotiation chapters in December 2024. Looking ahead, Montenegro is anticipated to be the first candidate country to receive a positive Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) and achieve membership in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in 2025.

Ambitious Timeline for Full Membership

Montenegro has set an ambitious political goal to conclude its accession negotiations by the end of 2026, with the aim of achieving full EU membership by 2028. This timeline reflects the country's commitment to reforms and its leading position in the Western Balkans' integration process. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović expressed gratitude for Slovakia's consistent support, acknowledging the value of Slovakia's own experience in the EU accession process.

Slovak Support and Regional Implications

Minister Blanár reiterated Slovakia's readiness to provide expert support to Montenegro, particularly in areas where Slovakia has navigated challenging stages of the accession process. He also mentioned that Slovakia plans to organize a meeting of the 'Friends of the Western Balkans' group in the first half of next year, further underscoring its commitment to the region's European future. The ongoing dialogue between Slovakia and Montenegro aims to translate strong political relations into enhanced economic cooperation, particularly in sectors such as tourism, energy, and transport infrastructure.