Montenegro’s EU accession: A confidence-building tutorial for the Union

Montenegro’s accession would be a low-risk, high-impact way for the EU to prove its credibility and capacity to deliver enlargement – strengthening trust in its leadership at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

There is no growth without discomfort, no credibility without keeping one’s promises and no leadership without competence. To navigate the present geopolitical storms and prepare for future shocks, the European Union must come of age, mend its reputation and dust off its mantle. The task ahead is daunting, matching the weight of the permapolycrisis, and will demand sustained effort across policy fields and decision-making levels.

Yet strategic wins can make the challenge less formidable. One such opportunity is Montenegro’s accession before the end of the current politico- institutional cycle. By investing the needed political and technical capital to see the country join the Union by 2029, the EU would demonstrate that it can step outside its comfort zone, honour its commitments and act with purpose – rehearsing, in essence, the confident and competent leadership it will need in the years to come.

Read the full policy brief here.

Corina Stratulat is an Associate Director and Head of the European Politics and Institutions Programme at the European Policy Centre.

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