The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

Montenegro is one of the Western Balkan countries.

In 2006 Montenegro's parliament declared independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. In 2008, the new country applied for EU membership. In December 2011, the Council launched the accession process with a view to opening negotiations in June 2012.

EU - Montenegro (2019 - 2020)

HAHN, Johannes (EC) - Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations

Plenary session week 10 2016 in Strasbourg - 2015 Report on Montenegro

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Zdravko KRIVOKAPIĆ, Montenegrin Prime Minister and Đorđe RADULOVIĆ, Montenegrin Minister for Foreign Affairs in the European Parliament in Brussels: arrivals and welcome; roundtable. Ahead the EU-Montenegro Intergovernmental Accession Conference (22/06)

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Zdravko KRIVOKAPIĆ, Montenegrin Prime Minister and Đorđe RADULOVIĆ, Montenegrin Minister for Foreign Affairs: arrivals and welcome; roundtable

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro.

2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: MEPs debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: closing statements by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: opening statements by Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), rapporteur, Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: opening statements by Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), rapporteur, Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Video stockshot with illustrative images of the capital and countryside of the Western Balkans country Montenegro produced by the Audiovisual Service of the European Commission.

Infoclip: Montenegro

Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, presents the 2018 Enlargement Package during the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the EP in Brussels.

Presentation of the 2018 Enlargement Package by Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations: extracts EP Committee on Foreign Affairs

Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, and Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, speak to the press after the College meeting, during the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg.

Read-out of the College meeting of 06/02/2018 by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Johannes HAHN, on Western Balkans Strategy

During the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the decision adopted on the EU Enlargement Strategy - Western Balkans. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Victor BOŞTINARU (S&D, RO) and Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK).

Enlargement to Montenegro (T)

Videos

Photos

Photosets

Topics

Media published for this tag

2

Topics

11

Videos

1

Photosets

21

Photos