Montenegro Seeks EU Assistance to Counter Russian Interference

Montenegro’s President Sees Path to EU Membership, Navigates Challenges with Russia

Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović believes his country is making significant progress toward European Union membership, citing improved perceptions among EU leaders, particularly French President Emmanuel Macron.

“I believe that two years ago, before President Macron started speaking with me, he had one opinion,” Milatović said. “After so many discussions that I had with him, however, Macron was now optimistic about Montenegro’s position in the EU.”

This shift in perception extends beyond France, according to Milatović, who noted that EU leaders increasingly view Montenegro as the leading candidate for accession. “Montenegro is now perceived as a front-runner. But I do want to see the end of the race, in a sense,” he emphasized, suggesting that recognition alone is insufficient without concrete progress toward membership.

The Balkan nation, which gained independence from Serbia in 2006 and formally applied for EU membership in 2008, has been engaged in accession negotiations since 2012. Despite its small size—with just over 600,000 citizens—Montenegro holds strategic importance in a region where the EU competes with Russian and Chinese influence.

One significant challenge facing Montenegro’s EU aspirations is its economic ties to Russia. The country has not yet introduced visa requirements for Russian citizens, who can currently enter visa-free for 30 days. Russians also remain the largest group of foreign investors in the country, raising concerns about potential undue influence.

Milatović acknowledged these concerns while explaining the delicate balance his government is trying to strike. “What we are trying to do is sort of postpone it [visas] as much as we can, so that we still keep our tourism sector alive,” he said, highlighting the economic reality facing his country. Tourism accounts for approximately 25% of Montenegro’s GDP, making any disruption to visitor flows a significant economic concern.

“We are a bit in a vacuum now because we don’t have full access to EU funds,” Milatović explained, pointing to the financial constraints that make Russian investment difficult to replace immediately. Nevertheless, he assured that Montenegro would align its visa regime with EU requirements “very soon” as part of its commitment to European integration.

The president also expressed that he was “absolutely” concerned about the influx of Russian money, indicating awareness of the political implications of these economic ties.

The path forward for Montenegro requires not only addressing these external relationships but also internal political cohesion. The country has experienced political turbulence in recent years, with frequent changes in government threatening to slow reform efforts necessary for EU accession.

Milatović emphasized that while Montenegro must focus on uniting its political forces and implementing promised reforms, the EU also bears responsibility for demonstrating that the enlargement process remains viable.

“The last country that entered was Croatia more than 10 years ago. And in the meantime, the United Kingdom left,” Milatović observed. “So this is why I believe that now is the time to revive the process, to also revive a bit the idea of the EU as a club that still has a gravity toward it.”

His comments come amid broader discussions about EU enlargement, with other Western Balkan countries, including North Macedonia, Albania, and Serbia, also pursuing membership. The EU’s ability to absorb new members has been questioned following challenges like Brexit and rising Euroscepticism in several member states.

For Montenegro, which adopted the euro in 2002 and joined NATO in 2017, EU membership represents the final step in its Western integration. As Milatović put it, the EU needs to prove that “enlargement is alive” and that “reforms pay off” to maintain momentum not only for Montenegro but for the entire region’s European aspirations.