Merz Sees Montenegro in EU by 2028 as Berlin Process Summit Opens

At the Berlin Process summit in Milocer, Montenegro, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that Montenegro could realistically become the European Union’s 28th member by 2028. He urged Western Balkan countries to accelerate reforms and regional cooperation. Speaking at the opening of the summit, Merz said that EU and regional leaders had made progress since last meeting in Tivat in June focused on the EU integration of the Western Balkans. “Since we’ve met in Tivat in June, we have managed to get the enlargement process back on track, and you all know how difficult it used to be. But now we are on a positive path,” Merz said.