Montenegro to chair the Berlin Process in 2026 – intensive inter-institutional preparations launched

The Working Team for coordinating activities within the Berlin Process held a meeting marking the beginning of preparations for one of Montenegro’s most significant foreign-policy engagements in the coming year – the chairmanship of the Berlin Process in 2026.

For the first time in its history, Montenegro will host this important format, which brings together governments of the Western Balkan states, nine EU member states, as well as the United Kingdom. For more than a decade, the Process has shaped political, economic, and security dynamics in the region, with strong support from regional organizations and the Federal Republic of Germany, as the initiator of the Process. Montenegro’s chairmanship will be a key moment for the country and the entire Western Balkans, especially in the context of EU enlargement, security challenges, and the need for deeper regional cooperation.

The Process is politically led by the Office of the Prime Minister, with support from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Alongside their representatives, the meeting included representatives of ministries and government bodies that serve as permanent members of the Working Team for the Berlin Process. Their coordination will be crucial for the successful management of the Process, which involves organizing numerous high-level and ministerial meetings throughout 2026, as well as other accompanying events under the umbrella of the Process.

During the meeting, participants discussed priority thematic areas for Montenegro’s chairmanship, the framework of upcoming events, cooperation models with European and regional partners, and the need to establish a strong operational and communications team.

For context, Montenegro’s Chairmanship of the Berlin Process comes in a year in which the country will also chair several international events and initiatives (EU–Western Balkans Summit, Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Western Balkans Fund). Taken together, these responsibilities demonstrate Montenegro’s ambition to position itself as a reliable regional leader and a credible partner of the European Union. This process represents an opportunity for Montenegro to confirm its diplomatic maturity, its capacity for regional cooperation, and its readiness to contribute to a new phase of European integration in the Western Balkans.