Montenegro's EU envoy says end-2028 membership target is realistic
Ambassador Petar Marković identified constitutional changes and disputes with Croatia as the country's two main obstacles to accession.
Montenegro can achieve its ambition of becoming the EU's 28th member by the end of 2028, its ambassador to the EU, Petar Marković, said. He described that timetable as realistic and placed Montenegro ahead of the other countries seeking membership.
Marković said the country was ready to meet the target under both its own standards and those of the EU's 27 members and the European Commission.
He identified two principal hurdles: changes to Montenegro's constitution and the resolution of disputes with Croatia, an EU member. The disagreements with its neighbour mainly concern matters arising from the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, he said.
Montenegro submitted its membership application in 2008, two years after declaring independence. Accession talks began in 2012.
