DPM Ivanović for Euronews: “28 by 28” is a realistic goal, we aim to complete negotiations by year-end

Montenegro is determined to complete its European Union accession negotiations this year, Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović said in an interview with Euronews.

For the first time since Brexit, the European Union has a real opportunity to enlarge again, and on its path towards membership, Montenegro appears to be an exceptionally patient “straight-A student.”

The goal is to close the negotiations by the end of this year. The goal is ambitious, but realistic. We truly believe it is possible to get the job done by the end of the year, Ivanović said.

He added that more than half of the negotiating chapters have currently been provisionally closed.

As far as Montenegro is concerned, in terms of adopting and implementing legislation, reforms and all other standards and criteria for the remaining chapters, we will complete this on our side within a month. This will, for example, leave sufficient time for our friends in the European Commission to assess the progress, as well as for representatives of EU Member States to give their final confirmation for each of the chapters that are to be closed by the end of the year. I am very optimistic and believe that we will complete the negotiations within the envisaged timeframe.

Ivanović: The benefits are twofold

Asked about Montenegro’s main expectations from EU membership, as well as what the country can bring to the Union, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the benefits of Montenegro’s political integration with the European Union are twofold.

Montenegro firmly believes that, historically, culturally and politically, it belongs to the most advanced and developed political community in the world, which is the European Union. On the other hand, I am sure that the EU understands that, by accepting Montenegro as a member, it will become more stable and secure, which is something that is very much needed in times of, let’s say, rather turbulent events around the world, Ivanović said.

As far as Montenegro is concerned, he highlighted the practical aspects:

I think there are many areas in which every individual citizen of Montenegro will feel the benefits of EU membership – and when I say every citizen, I really mean everyone: from farmers and workers, to researchers, doctors and students, to pensioners and so on. There are, of course, also some long-term benefits, such as improvements to institutions, infrastructure, the healthcare system and education. And that is what we hope for.

Montenegrins more ready than Icelanders

Alongside Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova are currently participating in the European Union enlargement process. We now know that Iceland – at least for the time being – will withdraw from the process. According to the referendum held on 29 August 2026, opponents of resuming negotiations on EU accession won 52.8 per cent of the vote.

Commenting on the Icelandic decision, Ivanović said:

I would not draw any firm conclusions from the Icelandic referendum when it comes to the attractiveness of the EU, because, as you know, Iceland is already quite strongly integrated with the European Economic Area and in many other areas. The EU remains the most advanced and developed political community in the world. Of course, Icelanders have the sovereign right to decide their own future. As far as Montenegro is concerned, EU membership is and remains the main goal of our foreign policy, and this goal is also supported by our public – support for the European Union in Montenegro has always been between 75 and 85 per cent of citizens.

Will Montenegro pave the way for other Western Balkan countries?

The Deputy Prime Minister is confident that Montenegro’s accession will open the door for other Western Balkan countries as well.

What we want to achieve is, of course, not just Montenegro’s membership in itself, although that is our main goal. We also want to be a positive example of a successful enlargement story. As you know, it has been quite some time since the last country joined the European Union, and I believe it is time for a new member.

That will be a positive signal. A positive signal, on the one hand, that a country that implements reforms will be rewarded with membership. On the other hand, it will also strengthen and reaffirm the credibility of the European Union.

This is something I would call a twofold responsibility. One aspect of the responsibility lies with the candidate countries, while the other lies with the European Union itself.

“28 by 28” – Montenegro’s goal

Asked about possible interference by China, Russia or other geopolitical actors in the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans, he said:

I am absolutely certain that there are geopolitical actors who will not be in favour of Montenegro’s membership – not only of Montenegro’s membership as such, but also of the enlargement of the European Union. However, we always say that influences of this kind must be measured by their effects, and those effects by results.

I think that is precisely why it is extremely important to accelerate the negotiations, accelerate the accession process and deliver results. The result is for Montenegro to complete the negotiations and become a member of the European Union. Because that will be the best response to all other narratives that do not support EU enlargement.

Montenegro, which has been an EU candidate country since 2010, hopes to become the European Union’s 28th member by 2028.

In his interview with Euronews, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović confirmed that his country remains committed to this ambition:

Absolutely. ‘28 by 28’ – that is Montenegro’s goal.

The interview with Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović was conducted at the 35th Economic Forum in Karpacz.