Montenegro Set to Become Official EU Member by 2028

The European Union has confirmed that the nation of Montenegro is set to officially join the bloc in 2028– the group's first expansion into the Western Balkans.

Currently, the European Union covers 27 member states across Europe, spanning much of the western, central, and northern parts of the continent. With the exceptions of the United Kingdom, which pulled out in 2020, and Switzerland, which has always maintained a relatively neutral stance on such matters, all of Western and Central Europe are part of the EU. Norway has also established similar rules but is not an official member nation.

However, in eastern Europe, the situation is slightly different. In order to join the EU, nations must adapt a specific framework of political and economic rules that can take time and effort. Yugoslavia, the former nation that made up much of the Western Balkans, dissolved in 1992, leaving disputed borders and geopolitical conflicts behind with it.

To this day, Serbia and Kosovo continue to experience border skirmishes over territory disputes, and Russia's strong influence over the region has not gone unnoticed. Russia has been accused of manipulating political elections in several nations, and they still hold significant clout among Slavic populations in countries like Serbia.

For these reasons, the EU has been cautious about expanding into the Balkans, though Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece have already joined the bloc.

Nevertheless, adding members to the EU serves as a win-win for both sides. Smaller nations that join the bloc obtain access to a massive market spanning the entire continent, in addition to certain security and military protections that non-member states do not receive. Meanwhile, other nations gain easy access to yet another economy, allowing member states to prop each other up.

Because of this, several nations have previously expressed strong interest in joining the EU, including Ukraine, Moldova, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, and Iceland.

Now, the group has confirmed that Montenegro could be the next. The Balkan nation, which borders the Adriatic Sea, is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, along with its reputation for being budget-friendly compared to other, more renowned Mediterranean destinations.

Eastern Europe has recently undergone a transformation as tourists flock to new locations, aiming to escape the now-overcrowded beaches of Spain, France, and Italy. However, it is also taking a toll on the local environment, with protests exploding across Albania this week after a massive hotel broke ground near a local protected area.

With the right reforms, though, Montenegro has been making progress towards becoming a more reputable nation. EU leaders confirmed that Montenegro is on track to become a full-fledged member by 2028, when they will reach full compliance with all standards and laws required by the bloc's frameworks.

To achieve these milestones, though, Montenegro will need to confront corruption issues within its own government and prevent democratic backsliding– a process that has become more common in the region as Russia works to increase its sphere of influence.

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