EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat: Von der Leyen Declares Montenegro 'Within Reach' of 2028 Membership

The EU-Western Balkans Summit took place at Porto Montenegro in Tivat on June 5, 2026 — the first time Montenegro has hosted this annual summit, coinciding with the country's 20th anniversary of independence. European Council President António Costa chaired the summit alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EP President Roberta Metsola, HR/VP Kaja Kallas, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, and the leaders of all six Western Balkans partners. Von der Leyen declared Montenegro is 'within reach' of EU membership by 2028 — the first concrete membership target since Croatia joined in 2013 — and confirmed the EU had begun drafting Montenegro's accession treaty the previous month. German Chancellor Merz delivered a direct message to Serbian President Vučić that Serbia must make a clear strategic choice and 'cannot continue swinging between Russia, China, and Europe.' A Franco-German non-paper presented at the summit proposed allowing Western Balkans candidate countries to participate as observers in Council meetings without voting rights and gain progressive Single Market access before formal membership. The Council authorized opening negotiations for EU-Western Balkans free-roaming agreements — enabling Balkans citizens to use EU roaming rates. The summit reaffirmed the €6 billion Western Balkans Growth Plan and accelerated accession for Albania, which is also advancing negotiations.