Thewesternbalkans.
According to different media, on March 26-27, 2026 the European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos visited Montenegro to reaffirm the EU’s continued support for the country’s accession process.
She pointed out that the “frontrunner” of the Western Balkans Montenegro will be first country to join the bloc under new safeguards designed to ensure all new members uphold agreed democratic standards.
In Podgorica, Commissioner Kos held meetings with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović, and Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević. The discussions focused on the reform progress made by Montenegro on its EU path, as well as under the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which foresees up to €383.5 million for Montenegro, upon the successful delivery of reforms.
Commissioner Kos also met with the Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament, Andrija Mandić, as well as with local authorities and members of opposition parties to discuss the importance of maintaining political will and unity for the country’s EU agenda. Commissioner Kos then participated in a public discussion with youth on the opportunities that EU membership can bring to their daily lives. The Commissioner also visited the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre, a regional hub working towards strengthening digital resilience across the Western Balkans.
On March 27 (Friday), Commissioner Kos visited Nikšić, the European Capital of Culture 2030, and visited the Technopolis Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre. She met the Mayor of Nikšić, Marko Kovačević, as well as the beneficiaries of the Youth Guarantee – an EU-funded initiative helping young people in Montenegro enter the job market following their studies.
During the joint press conference in Podgorica the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic have had the possibility to comment the results of the visit.
Marta Kos, said that Montenegro and all future member states will face “democratic safeguards” aimed at preventing backsliding on the bloc’s values.
“This is not specifically about Montenegro – it will apply to all future members. But as the most advanced candidate, Montenegro would be the first to join under these democratic safeguards,” Kos told to journalists.
She said the proposed “insurance mechanism” would allow the bloc to react if a new member fails to uphold agreed standards, while stressing that countries meeting all conditions would enjoy full rights.
“EU treaties are very clear – if you meet all the conditions, you will receive 100 per cent of the rights,” she said – a reference to the mooted “second – tier membership idea” for Balkan states, which Brussels has ruled out.
“Montenegro is in the endgame, but there is still a lot of work ahead, including some of the most difficult reforms,” she said, stressing the need for strong and stable institutions to guarantee democracy, the rule of
Kos outlined three key priorities for Podgorica: accelerating reforms, strengthening the rule of law and ensuring media independence.
On the rule of law, Kos said the country had yet to meet EU standards: “This must be your absolute priority. Every member state must have an independent judiciary and the capacity to fight high-level corruption and organised crime.” She underscored that media freedom is non-negotiable: “We will never compromise on this.”
She said the accession process had reached a decisive phase. “The last enlargement took place in 2013. Now we need to bring this process over the line. Like in sports, it requires team spirit and full mobilisation for the final stretch,” Kos said.
When asked by journalists about the adoption of the Law on Internal Affairs and the Agency for National Security, Kos noted that the European Commission said that the provisions for data protection have not yet been harmonized with EU rules and that they will have to be harmonized.
Comments: According to the European Commission’s official website, Montenegro has opened all accession negotiating chapters and already closed 14, out of which six were closed last year and two additional ones already this year.
The country is steadily and consistently advancing in its accession negotiations. Efforts are sustained and supported to respect its ambitious negotiation calendar.
The enthusiasm and positive thinking in Podgorica, being the frontrunner of the Western Balkans on EU accession process, are remarkable.
