Von der Leyen: Montenegro is preparing for its borders to become EU borders

The European Union is preparing Montenegro to take responsibility for its external borders upon joining the bloc, and the country is also expected to eventually become a member of the Schengen Area, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today.

“We are preparing for Montenegro’s borders to become EU borders, and in time for Montenegro to join Schengen,” said von der Leyen at the opening of the new border police building in Podgorica, which will house the future National Coordination Center for Border Management.

She said the center would enable the Montenegrin border police to monitor borders, exchange information, and coordinate activities with EU agencies, assessing that this would mean safer borders for Montenegro and greater security for Europe.

Von der Leyen is visiting Montenegro as part of her annual tour of Western Balkan countries, at a time when Podgorica is trying to complete accession negotiations with the EU by the end of the year and achieve the government’s goal for the country to become a member in 2028.

The day before, she met separately with President Jakov Milatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. After talks with Spajić, von der Leyen said the European Commission supports Montenegro’s ambition to become the 28th EU member by 2028, but warned that the final phase of negotiations requires political stability, broad support for reforms, and resilience to attempts to polarize society.

Montenegro has been negotiating EU membership since 2012 and is currently the most advanced candidate in the enlargement process. It has opened all 33 negotiating chapters, of which 18 have been provisionally closed.

During talks in Podgorica, von der Leyen also announced that the European Commission will present its enlargement policy next week, reiterating that candidates’ progress will depend on meeting membership criteria.

The new border police building, financed by the EU, was constructed through a migration and border management support program implemented by the International Organization for Migration. The value of the construction and equipment is nearly three million euros, with an additional contribution from Montenegro of more than half a million euros.

Prime Minister Spajić said that strengthening border control is preparing Montenegro for its future role in protecting the EU’s external border, while Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović stated that the country is already building the necessary capacities for that responsibility even before membership.