Finance
EU Moves to Start Drafting Montenegro Accession Treaty
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 22, 2026
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EU countries have launched the process to draft Montenegro’s accession treaty, reflecting recognition of its reform progress and ambition to join the bloc by 2028.
EU Launches Accession Treaty Drafting, Boosting Montenegro’s Path to EU Membership
Montenegro Advances Toward EU Membership with New Accession Treaty Phase
EU Decision Marks Significant Progress
BRUSSELS, April 22 (Reuters) - European Union countries decided to start work on drafting an accession treaty for Montenegro on Wednesday, marking a new phase in the country's path toward joining the bloc.
Recognition of Montenegro's Progress
"This is a major step on the path to EU membership, a clear recognition of Montenegro's progress, and an encouragement to accelerate reforms," European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said in a post on X.
Safeguards in Future Accession Treaties
"It also offers a chance to draw lessons from past enlargements and include new and stronger safeguards in future accession treaties to prevent backsliding on the rule of law and fundamental values," she added.
Montenegro’s EU Aspirations and Background
Montenegro's government has said it hopes to join the EU by 2028. A former republic of Yugoslavia, Montenegro became independent in 2006. It has a population of about 600,000.
European Council President's Congratulations
European Council President Antonio Costa congratulated the country on Wednesday.
"The decision to establish the Working Party to draft the new Accession Treaty is a key milestone," he said.
(Reporting by Lili Bayer, editing by Inti Landauro)
Key Takeaways
- •EU formally initiated drafting of Montenegro’s accession treaty on April 22, 2026, signaling a major advancement in the country’s bid to join the bloc (en.wikipedia.org)
- •Montenegro aims to complete accession negotiations by end‑2026 and become the EU’s 28th member by 2028, a timeline widely regarded as ambitious but achievable (en.wikipedia.org)
- •The move comes amid widespread endorsement from EU institutions and leaders, viewing Montenegro as the most advanced candidate among Western Balkan hopefuls (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about EU moves to start drafting Montenegro accession treaty
1What decision did the EU make regarding Montenegro's accession?
The EU decided to start drafting an accession treaty for Montenegro, marking a major step in its path toward EU membership.
2Why is the drafting of the accession treaty significant for Montenegro?
It signals recognition of Montenegro's progress toward EU reforms and encourages further acceleration of reforms.
3When does Montenegro hope to join the European Union?
Montenegro's government hopes to join the EU by 2028.
4What lessons does the EU aim to incorporate in future accession treaties?
The EU plans to include stronger safeguards to prevent backsliding on the rule of law and fundamental values.
5How was Montenegro congratulated for this step?
European Council President Antonio Costa called the decision a key milestone in Montenegro's EU journey.
