Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajić declared that the country’s aspiration to join the European Union is increasingly motivated by security concerns rather than traditional fiscal incentives. Speaking at POLITICO’s European Pulse Forum held in Barcelona, Spajić emphasized that the narrative surrounding EU membership has evolved.
“Joining the EU … used to be a story about … fiscal support for your infrastructure,” he stated, noting that this focus has shifted over time. Instead, he highlighted the importance of the EU’s role as a “peace project” amid current global tensions.
New motivations for EU membership
Montenegro, which commenced its accession negotiations with the EU in 2012, is currently recognized as the leading candidate for membership. Spajić articulated a threefold rationale for this pursuit: a commitment to shared values, access to the single market comprising half a billion people, and the strategic significance of the EU as a stabilizing force in today’s world.
“The key for us, why we want to join the EU, is obviously common values that we all believe in, and secondly, it’s the single market, it’s half a billion people versus half a million Montenegrins,” Spajić remarked.
Future of Montenegro in the EU
In light of recent geopolitical developments, including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there has been a noticeable increase in interest from non-EU nations, including Iceland and Moldova, in joining the EU for reasons of security and stability rather than merely economic benefits.
Montenegro stands out as the most advanced candidate in the EU accession process, having successfully closed 14 out of the 33 negotiating chapters required for membership. Despite this progress, there remains skepticism among some EU member states regarding the inclusion of new members, with calls for reforms in the bloc’s decision-making processes.
Spajić expressed optimism about Montenegro’s prospects, stating that Podgorica aims to complete the remaining chapters and join the EU by 2028, asserting that the country is “80, 90 percent there” in meeting the necessary criteria. He conveyed confidence that significant reforms currently underway would facilitate this goal.
“Some of the things that we are doing now, the reforms we are doing, they are absolutely unprecedented,” he asserted, underscoring the transformative efforts being made.
Ultimately, Spajić believes that Montenegro’s EU accession would not only benefit the nation but also inspire hope and reinforce the EU’s commitment to enlargement as a powerful instrument of stability in the Western Balkans.