April 21, 2026.

Published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in April 2026, this article by Nikola Xaviereff analyzes Montenegro’s place in the European Union’s new enlargement process. While the war in Ukraine has restored a geopolitical dimension to enlargement, Montenegro appears to be the main test of the EU’s ability to turn its strategic ambitions into concrete results.

The analysis highlights the dilemma facing the European Union: responding to new geopolitical realities while ensuring that enlargement does not undermine either its functioning or its democratic standards. Although Montenegro is considered the most advanced candidate in the Western Balkans, debates over gradual accession and institutional reform continue to slow down the process.

This publication advocates for full membership and argues that gradual integration should serve only as a complementary tool, not a substitute for the prospect of full and formal membership. It argues that the legitimacy of the enlargement process now depends on the ability of member states to make a clear political choice, at a time when the strategic cost of not expanding is becoming increasingly high.

You can find the article EU Enlargement in Transition by Nikola Xaviereff and published by German Council on Foreign Relations (2026) here.