Hungary backs Montenegro's EU accession by 2028

Hungary has expressed strong support for Montenegro's accession to the European Union, with a Hungarian official stating that Montenegro is an example for other candidate countries and has Hungary's backing to join the EU by 2028. The statement was made by a Hungarian representative, likely during a bilateral meeting or EU-related forum, emphasizing Montenegro's progress in reforms. This endorsement comes amid broader EU enlargement discussions, where the Western Balkans remain a priority but face slow progress due to internal EU politics and candidate country reforms. Hungary, holding the EU presidency in the second half of 2024, is using its influence to push for faster integration of certain candidates. Montenegro has been a frontrunner in the accession process, having opened all negotiation chapters, but final membership requires unanimous EU member state approval. The 2028 target is ambitious, as no new members have joined since Croatia in 2013, and the timeline depends on both Montenegro's reforms and EU institutional readiness.

Global Impact

Politically, Hungary's backing strengthens Montenegro's EU bid and reinforces Hungary's role as a pro-enlargement voice within the EU, countering more skeptical member states. Geopolitically, faster EU integration for Montenegro reduces Russian and Chinese influence in the Balkans, aligning the region more closely with Western institutions.