Czech PM suggests Albania, Montenegro could join EU by 2028

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has said that Montenegro and Albania could be on track to join the European Union by 2028, amid renewed discussion over enlargement to the Western Balkans.

Speaking at the EU–Western Balkans summit in Tivat, Montenegro, Babiš told reporters that both countries were now at a stage where they could exert pressure on the bloc to advance their accession process, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“I told the leaders of Montenegro and Albania that now is the moment when you can push the European Union to accept you as members of the community in 2028,” he said.

Babiš also noted that he held talks ahead of the summit with leaders from across the Western Balkans, a region that remains central to the EU’s long-term enlargement agenda.

Both Albania and Montenegro currently hold official candidate status for EU membership, alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine.

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović has previously said the country aims to become the 28th member of the EU by 2028.

By Aghakazim Guliyev