EU Pushes Faster Membership Track for 6 Western Balkan States at Montenegro Summit
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Jun 5
EU Pushes Faster Membership Track for 6 Western Balkan States at Montenegro Summit
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Jun 5
Summary
Antonio Costa said EU and Western Balkan leaders will meet in Tivat on Friday to make the accession process for six candidate countries "faster and better," while insisting standards will not be eased.
Six aspirants—Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro—have long sought entry, and Costa said reducing frustration on both sides is key to keeping enlargement credible in coming years.
Serbia faces particular pressure: Costa told President Aleksandar Vucic to deepen democratic reforms and align foreign policy with the EU, after warnings Belgrade could lose about €1.5 billion in EU funds.
Montenegro's ban on 87 Serbs and Serbia's security warning against Vucic traveling to the summit risk overshadowing the meeting, even as Podgorica remains the region's frontrunner for EU membership.
The push reflects the EU's broader view that Western Balkans enlargement is a geopolitical investment, sharpened by competition for influence in the region after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Can the EU reform its own rules fast enough to welcome new Balkan members without causing internal gridlock?
With Montenegro targeting 2028, is the EU's staged entry plan a real path or a permanent waiting room?
The Tivat Summit and Beyond: Accelerating EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans Amid Geopolitical Pressures
Overview
The EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro on June 5, 2026, hosted by President Jakov Milatovic, marked a key moment for regional integration. The summit's main goal was to reaffirm the EU's strong commitment to integrating Western Balkan nations and to give new energy to the enlargement process. EU leaders, including President Costa, clearly stated that the EU's dedication to the region is real, highlighting a strategic push to support these countries. This renewed engagement comes at a time of global challenges, showing the EU's intent to solidify its role and help the Western Balkans move closer to membership.