Montenegro could join the EU in 2028 or 2029, European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said, adding that candidates countries can advance only if they deliver results.
In an interview with the Austrian daily Kleine Zeitung, she assessed that a new round of enlargement is possible in 2028 or 2029 and stressed that it is important that candidate countries to benefit even before accession, through roaming agreements or the SEPA common payment area.
Kos pointed out that EU enlargement now has a completely different dynamic than in previous years, reports N1. “One reason is that it is now truly EU’s priority, and the second reason is of course the changed geopolitical situation, which puts the whole process in a new perspective”, explains Kos.
She recalled that Montenegro aims to finish the negotiations by the end of next year, after which the decisions of the EU heads of government and the ratification process will follow.
“For Montenegro, therefore, accession would be possible in 2028 or 2029, for Albania a little later. But this is, of course, merit-based, which means that candidate countries can advance only if they deliver results”, said Kos.