EU and Western Balkan leaders gathered in the Adriatic port town of Tivat, Montenegro, on Friday. The summit includes heads of Europe’s largest economies, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Tightened security measures, including increased police patrols and checkpoints, were implemented around the luxury waterfront hotels hosting the two-day event. Prior to the formal talks, Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović hosted the heads of state for an informal dinner on Thursday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Montenegro’s independence.
Operating under the theme “Shared prosperity and stability of the EU and the Western Balkans,” Friday’s discussions center on EU enlargement involving Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
Strategic Enlargement Initiatives
Ahead of the summit, European Council President Antonio Costa met with regional leaders from June 1 to 4 to reinforce the bloc’s intentions. “My visit to the region sends a clear signal: our commitment to the Western Balkans is real, and so is the opportunity of enlargement,” Costa stated. “The momentum is there. Now is the time to deliver.”
Convened just six months after the last summit, this meeting aims to evaluate advancements in social and economic reforms, defense and security, and strategies to combat cyber threats. While discussions regarding the integration of this region of 18 million people have spanned two decades, the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has revitalized EU efforts to diminish Russian influence in the area.
To this end, the EU launched a six-billion-euro growth plan for the Western Balkans in November 2023, specifically designed to counter the economic leverage of China and Russia.
The path to membership varies significantly across the six nations. Albania and Montenegro are considered the primary frontrunners, while Kosovo remains the most distant due to the fact that five EU member states do not recognize its independence. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to unveil an acceleration package in Tivat, featuring a streamlined assessment process and increased pre-accession funding.
However, obstacles remain: Montenegro is required to make further strides in judicial reform and anti-corruption efforts, while Serbia has faced criticism over its ties to Moscow and the pace of its democratic reforms.
Regional Security Tensions
The summit occurs against a backdrop of domestic unrest in Serbia, where the government has faced over a year of protests and reported clashes between demonstrators and state supporters.
The attendance of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was nearly jeopardized after Serbia’s security agency issued a rare warning on Wednesday, advising against his travel due to “hostile activities of foreign intelligence services and criminal clans in Montenegro.”
Diplomatic friction between Serbia and Montenegro has intensified recently. Tensions spiked on Wednesday when Montenegrin police blocked a flight carrying Serbian supporters of President Vučić, citing national security concerns. Subsequent reports indicated that some Montenegrin citizens faced delays or entry denials when attempting to enter Serbia.
Montenegro’s foreign ministry has dismissed claims that it failed to adhere to proper security protocols. During a joint press conference with Vučić in Belgrade on Thursday, Antonio Costa affirmed, “We have full confidence in the Montenegrin authorities.”