MEMO Montenegro’s EU Push: Imminent Opportunities and Challenges - PRO-EU MOMENTUM

tion is backing the cabinet on matters In line with the current accession related to the EU, broad consensus methodology, clearing the interim now exists in favor of improving the benchmarks is a condition to start PRO-EU MOMENTUM implementation of EU requirements. [...] Its par- the pro-Serbian camp and the Mon- the country for the next stage of the liamentary majority includes 13 MPs tenegrin sovereignty camp – seems to accession process. [...] Yet in the coalition agree- is still very fragile and faces three im- by the clash of expectations at a criti- ment, ZBCG committed to the gov- mediate challenges: the upcoming re- cal moment that could be (mis)used by ernment’s foreign policy, including shuffle of cabinet to include the ZBCG’s internal and external actors hostile to 100-percent alignment with the EU on ministers; tensions with Pr. [...] Some member states in the The German Council on Foreign Relations response to Podgorica’s renewed ef- Council will argue for scheduling a (DGAP) is committed to fostering impactful forts to join the European Union might joint accession conference for all three foreign and security policy on a German and miss the main point: that, through countries toward the end of 2024. [...] and do not necessarily reflect the views of persistent crisis in Northern Kosovo, The EU’s own geopolitical interest in the German Council on Foreign Relations the EU is currently at an advantage vis- the Western Balkans will be put in peril (DGAP).