by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST/BELGRADE (Worthy News) – The European Union could conclude accession negotiations with Montenegro by the end of this year and sign a membership treaty as early as June 2027, the EU’s executive European Commission announced Wednesday, contrasting the country’s progress with political upheaval in neighboring Serbia.

Montenegro, a Balkan nation of about 630,000 people, hopes to become the EU’s 28th member in 2028, potentially ending a 15-year period without new countries joining the bloc.

“For the first time since 2011, when the EU closed accession negotiations with Croatia, the EU is in a position to soon close accession negotiations with another candidate country, Montenegro,” the Commission said in its annual enlargement report.

The announcement comes as Serbia, which has pursued EU membership for more than a decade, faces political uncertainty following the electoral defeat of longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party in October.

Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed 21, with Brussels concluding that the country could complete negotiations by the end of December, subject to agreement among EU member states.

MONTENEGRO EU MEMBERSHIP

The Commission said negotiations could realistically end this year, although all 27 existing EU members must approve the next steps and eventually ratify an accession treaty before Montenegro can join.

“This is testament to Montenegro’s sustained efforts to advance on the European path and implement the reforms needed to turn EU membership into reality,” the EU executive said.

The country’s progress contrasts with Serbia, where the Commission reported no substantive progress in accession negotiations over the past year, citing political polarization, democratic concerns and limited alignment with EU foreign policy.

Serbia’s political landscape changed dramatically after a student-backed opposition movement defeated Vučić’s governing alliance in parliamentary elections on October 25, following nearly two years of demonstrations against corruption and government accountability.

The protests began after the collapse of a railway station canopy in the northern city of Novi Sad in November 2024, killing 16 people and triggering nationwide anger over alleged corruption and construction failures.

SERBIA ELECTION UPHEAVAL

Results announced after repeat voting showed the student-backed movement winning 140 seats in Serbia’s 250-member parliament, compared with 103 for Vučić’s alliance, ending more than a decade of political dominance by the former president and his allies.

The European Commission said Serbia’s incoming government would have an opportunity to reverse negative democratic trends and revive accession negotiations, although significant reforms would be required.

The political upheaval was underscored Saturday when Vučić met his longtime friend and ally, former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, at Vučić’s father’s home near Belgrade.

Both men lost elections this year, with Orbán removed from power in April after 16 years as Hungary’s prime minister and Vučić’s political alliance defeated in Serbia last month.

“And yes, we both recently lost elections, but we didn’t lose our dignity, our pride, and our faith,” Vučić declared in a video released on social media.

VUČIĆ MEETS ORBÁN

Orbán assured his Serbian ally of his continued support, saying that genuine friendships could become stronger during difficult times.

“You can be sure yourself, personally, Alexander, that I’m always on your side,” Orbán told him.

Vučić ended their joint appearance with a defiant message: “We will come back.”

The European Commission’s assessment said Serbia had made technical progress in aligning some legislation with EU standards but continued to face problems involving democratic institutions, judicial independence and fundamental rights.

Brussels also expressed concern about Serbia’s limited alignment with EU foreign policy, particularly as Belgrade maintained close relations with Russia and China while formally pursuing membership in the European Union.

EU DEMANDS REFORMS

Serbia must also fulfill commitments under EU-mediated negotiations with Kosovo, whose independence Belgrade refuses to recognize.

However, the Commission acknowledged that the recent parliamentary election had created an opportunity for the incoming Serbian government to pursue reforms and strengthen democratic institutions.

The EU’s assessment came as Serbian authorities detained nine serving police officers and one former officer Wednesday over allegations of mistreating people held during anti-government protests in August 2025.

Elsewhere in the Balkans, Albania has emerged as another candidate advancing toward EU membership, having opened all 33 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed four.

The Commission described Albania’s ambition to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2027 as achievable, provided the country maintains reforms and strengthens cooperation between political parties.

ALBANIA EU ACCESSION

However, Brussels warned that deep political divisions and major demonstrations had complicated the reform process, calling for constructive dialogue involving parliament and civil society.

Ukraine and Moldova were also identified among the leading candidates, although Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine and the need for further anti-corruption and judicial reforms remain significant challenges.

For Montenegro, the immediate priority is completing the remaining negotiations and maintaining political support for reforms, while Serbia’s incoming leadership faces the task of determining whether the country can regain momentum toward European integration.

If Montenegro joins in 2028, it would become the first country admitted to the European Union since Croatia entered the bloc in July 2013.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.