EU says Montenegro on track to become bloc's next member state by 2028

The European Union could finish accession negotiations with Montenegro as early as the end of the year, paving the way for the Balkan country to become the bloc's next member in 2028, the European Commission said Wednesday.

"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's executive said in its annual enlargement policy report.

The EU said Montenegro was the frontrunner among nine candidate countries currently seeking membership. The last country to join the bloc was Croatia in 2013.

"The significant progress achieved by some candidates over the last year allows us to turn the promise of enlargement into reality," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. "Step by step, we are building a more complete, stronger Union."

What needs to happen for Montenegro to become an EU member?

The commission said Montenegro, with a population of 630,000, must still implement a number of reforms, particularly in the areas of fundamental rights and financial services.

If negotiations are wrapped up this year, an accession treaty could then be signed in June 2027, the report said.

The treaty would need to be ratified by all 27 EU member states, potentially allowing membership to be finalized in 2028.

As part of accession negotiations, candidate countries must bring their national laws and standards into line with EU requirements in areas ranging from environmental protection to human rights.

What is the status of other aspiring EU members?

The European Commission said in its report that Albania, Ukraine and Moldova were also making progress toward EU membership.

In its "roadmap" for the countries, it said Albania was roughly a year behind Montenegro and needed to continue reforming its justice system and tackling organized crime and corruption in order to finish accession negotiations by the end of 2027.

The commission said Moldova's aim of implementing the necessary reforms by early 2028 was also "ambitious but achievable" if the country continues to make changes at the current pace.

It praised Ukraine for making progress, despite the Russian invasion, but added that Kyiv needed to accelerate the pace of reforms to improve the rule of law and functioning of democratic institutions.

How far along is Serbia on the EU accession path?

Progress has been slower in the case of candidate countries North Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, the commission said.

But it also stressed that Serbia's membership talks could get a boost if the student movement that beat longtime populist President Aleksandar Vucic last month forms a government willing to strengthen democracy.

"Now Serbia has the chance for a fresh start," Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told EU lawmakers on Wednesday.

"The new Serbian government has an opportunity to turn the page, strengthen democratic institutions and fundamental rights, and take the necessary steps to advance on Serbia's accession path," she said.

Kosovo hopes to join the bloc but has not been granted candidate status.

Meanwhile, Georgia and Turkey are considered furthest away from attaining membership due to democratic backsliding.