The article will be updated throughout the day.
12:00 Merz: I hope that we will come to the conclusions that will be implemented
In his doorstep remarks, the German Chancellor said that the EU is capable and willing to enlarge.The
“The European Union must show that it is capable and willing to enlarge. There is, of course, a host of questions to be answered together, but above all, it must be acknowledged that this region has a perspective of belonging to the EU”, Merz told journalists ahead of the Summit.
“I had an opportunity to speak to many representatives of the region this morning. We will discuss further steps in the plenum, and I really hope that we will come to the conclusions that will be implemented in Brussels in the coming days and weeks. I feel encouraged by today’s discussions. There is a long way ahead of us, but the job is doable”, he added.
11:44 Macron: We are all here to support Montenegro’s efforts to join the EU
In his doorstep remarks, the President of France expressed strong support for the host country.
“We are all here to support Montenegro’s efforts to join the EU. Just as with all the chapters you have closed, the reason for our meeting here is the enlargement of the European community with Montenegro as a new member. We are all on Montenegro’s side in the sense that we want to provide support so that it can integrate as quickly as possible. The integration process itself will make the outcome very concrete and will make Montenegro part of our European family”, Macron said, RTCG reported.
11:20 Vučić says Serbia will implement Venice Commission recommendations after meeting with EU leaders
Vučić met with the President of the European Commission von der Leyen, the President of the European Council Costa, the French President Macron and the German Chancellor Merz.
Vučić published on his Instagram account that he spoke with EU leaders about EU enlargement and the reforms Serbia is implementing.
“I spoke about the activities that Serbia is undertaking to fulfill its obligations within the accession process, including reforms in the areas of the rule of law, electoral legislation, and the implementation of recommendations from relevant European institutions. I emphasized that Serbia will implement all recommendations of the Venice Commission in accordance with European standards”, Vučić wrote.
He said that he also discussed developments in the region and across Europe with the leaders.
“I stressed the importance of peace, stability, and cooperation for any further progress, as well as the importance of maintaining a credible enlargement policy and a clear European perspective for the countries of the Western Balkans. I expressed the expectation that the European Union will present and further develop a new enlargement methodology that will strengthen the process of European integration for candidate countries”, the President of Serbia wrote.
11:01 Von der Leyen and Macron hold a bilateral meeting
President of the European Commission and the President of France held a meeting ahead of the Summit. “Enlargement is a strategic investment of Europe”, von der Leyen wrote on X.
10:43 No joint declaration expected, N1 reports
According to N1 television, no joint declaration is expected at today’s Summit. The reasons are currently unknown.
10:33 Costa: Historic opportunity to bring Montenegro into the EU
President of the European Council António Costa posted on X that he was delighted to conclude his visit to the Western Balkans in Tivat, after Montenegro’s Independence Day last month.
“Montenegro has come a long way over the last twenty years. This generation has a historic opportunity to bring Montenegro into the European Union family”, Costa wrote.
He added that in his meeting with President Jakov Milatović, he acknowledged the hard work of Montenegro’s government in driving forward the necessary reforms to join the EU.
“Montenegro demonstrates that the opportunity for EU enlargement is real”, Costa wrote.
The European Union-Western Balkans Summit is held for the first time in Montenegro, the frontrunner candidate for EU membership. The EU-Western Balkans Summit have been held regularly since 2018.
According to the announcement, the discussions will focus on EU enlargement policy, regional stability, and the further integration of the Western Balkans into the EU. On the occasion of the Summit, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an interview with our portal that “there’s a lot of positive energy around what is being done right now” when it comes to enlargement.
Thursday was marked by the first-ever official visit of a French President to Montenegro, with Emmanuel Macron praising the progress made by Podgorica on its EU path. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola addressed the Montenegrin Assembly. The leaders’ welcome was hosted last night by President Jakov Milatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.
In the weeks ahead of the summit, several EU leaders proposed reforms to the EU accession process to accommodate the candidacy of Ukraine, as well as the longstanding membership bids of the Western Balkans. In a new non-paper seen yesterday by our portal, France and Germany proposed an approach that would allow candidates to gradually integrate into EU institutions, decision-making processes and the Single Market.
The days ahead of the Summit in Tivat also featured controversies, when a group of 87 passengers from Belgrade were returned from Tivat airport. The passengers, some of whom were reported to have criminal backgrounds, are linked to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. Upon his arrival in Tivat on Thursday, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić confirmed that their arrival was organised by someone from SNS and said that it was a “political mistake”, but claimed that their only goal was to organise gatherings in support of him.
