Montenegro To Apply for EU Membership

Montenegro said on Thursday it would apply for European Union membership, a move likely to encourage its Balkan neighbours to consider submitting their own applications.

'By taking this step Montenegro commits itself to the accession process and building of a united Europe which is a strategic goal in which the founders of the European Community invested their vision and commitment,' the government said in a statement.

Two government officials said the application from Montenegro, which was originally expected to apply earlier this year, would likely be submitted on Monday.

A summit of European Union leaders in Brussels is due to end on Friday.

The move by Montenegro, a country of just 650,000 people on the Adriatric Sea, is expected to encourage Balkan neighbours such as Albania and Serbia to file EU applications in coming months.

All states across the Balkans, a region still recovering from wars and political turmoil in 1990s, have set membership of the 27-nation block as their goal. Macedonia was the last Balkan country to apply for EU membership in 2004.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in an Oslo speech on Wednesday Montenegro had made progress on reforms but still had further to go before it would qualify.

'Much more work is needed, including on the rule of law and institution building. But we may still see an EU membership application from Montenegro soon,' said Rehn.

'Since achieving independence in 2006, it has adopted a new constitution, made good progress on key EU reforms, and signed and implemented its so-called 'Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU,' the gateway to candidate status.'

Montenegro had considered postponing its European Union candidate application until the next year when the Czech Republic takes over the EU rotating presidency from France. The Czech Republic has pledged to speed up the integration of Western Balkan countries into the 25-member bloc.

Montenegro has already deferred the application for EU candidate status on one occasion already, in June, and according to analysts, any further delays could have serious political repercussions in the country.

In June the EU’s Enlargement Commission Olli Rehn warned it was too early for Podgorica’s candidature.

Read more:
Montenegro ‘Ever Closer to EU’
Montenegro Hopes for EU Candidacy in 2008