Junker expects Montenegro to enter the EU before 2025
European Commission (EC) president Jean-Claude Juncker says he expects Montenegro and Serbia to become members of the European Union (EU) before 2025.
“I believe that Serbia and Montenegro will be EU member states before 2025,” Juncker said when asked by the Tanjug news agency about the intentions of the Union, which are supposed to be presented in the Successful Accession Strategy for the two countries, which Junker put forward in the EC’s work agenda.
After a meeting with Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, Juncker expressed satisfaction with Bulgaria’s plans to include the EU integration of the Western Balkans in the priorities of the Bulgarian presidency of the Union during the first half of 2018.
In mid-May, EU summit with the leaders of the Western Balkan countries will be organised in Sofia.
“I want to reiterate my conviction that it is necessary to keep an open EU perspective for the Western Balkans. At this moment, it seems that it is not possible to accept new members in 2019. However I want the European perspective to be seen not as an invitation but as a continuous need in this part of Europe,” Juncker said.
He also announced a visit to the countries of the Western Balkans during the spring of next year.
Source: CDM