German Chancellor: Montenegro should join EU by end of decade
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Montenegro should become a member of the European Union by the end of the current decade. He emphasized that the EU has not admitted any new member states for 13 years. However, the EU has indicated its openness to European countries that meet the "Copenhagen criteria." Scholz asserted that Montenegro fulfills these requirements, and therefore, the European Union must uphold its commitments. This statement comes as the EU continues its enlargement process, with Montenegro being a candidate country actively pursuing membership.
The German Chancellor's statement highlights a potential shift in the EU's enlargement policy, suggesting a more accelerated timeline for candidate countries like Montenegro that meet established criteria. This approach could incentivize other Western Balkan nations to pursue reforms more vigorously, potentially stabilizing the region. However, the EU faces internal challenges in absorbing new members, including economic disparities and differing political priorities among existing member states. The success of this accelerated path will depend on the EU's capacity to manage these complexities while maintaining its core values and operational effectiveness in the coming decade.
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