site.btaMontenegro's PM: We Hope to Become 28th EU Member State by 2028

Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic expressed hope that his country would become the 28th Member State of the European Union by 2028. He was speaking at a joint news briefing with his Bulgarian counterpart, Rosen Zhelyazkov, in Podgorica on Monday. The news briefing took place at the Gorica government residence, following a meeting between the two leaders, who signed an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation.

Montenegro’s Prime Minister said that all negotiation chapters with the EU are expected to be closed by the end of next year, adding that this would be a historic moment for his country.

Montenegro was granted EU candidate status in 2010, and negotiations began in 2012.

Opinion polls in recent years show that 70-80% of the population backs Montenegro’s EU accession. All ethnic groups in the country are pro-European, Spajic noted.

During their discussions, Prime Ministers Spajic and Zhelyazkov addressed not only diplomatic ties but also economic and connectivity issues.

“The time has come to raise our bilateral relations to a higher and more visible level so Bulgarians will be able to visit Montenegro easily, and Montenegrins to travel just as easily to Bulgaria,” Spajic said.

Responding to a reporter’s question about the euro, which is the official currency in Montenegro, despite the country not being an EU or euro area member, Spajic said that adopting the euro would benefit Bulgaria’s economy, reduce inflation, and make life easier for both investors and citizens.