Montenegro’s EU Accession is Critical Test of Europe’s Resolve

On June 3, an Air Serbia charter from Belgrade landed at Tivat, on Montenegro's Adriatic coast, carrying 87 men. Police searched the plane and found a banner reading "Serbia wins" – the campaign slogan of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's ruling party – a long-range communication device, and a marine radio. By late afternoon, all 87 were deported. Two days later, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and French and German presidents Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz landed in Tivat to declare Montenegro's EU membership within reach. Montenegrins had seen this film before: a decade ago, a plot to storm parliament on election day nearly derailed the country's path into NATO. The plane, though, is the threat at its crudest – visible, physical, stoppable. Subscribe to Balkan Insight Premium to read the full article. Please login to your account below if you are already a Premium Subscriber. Buy Premium Subscription Our Premium Service gives you full access to all content published on BalkanInsight.com, including analyses, investigations, comments, interviews and more. Choose your subscription today and get unparalleled in-depth coverage of the Southern and Eastern Europe. Buy Premium Subscription If you have trouble logging in or any other questions regarding you account, please contact us