Garčević Explored Montenegro’s EU Accession and Its Broader Implications
On June 17, 2024, Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies publisehd an OpEd titled “Why Montenegro’s EU Accession Can Be a Starting Point for More.” It was published by the prominent German media group Table Media. This piece, available in both English and German, addressed the European Union’s enlargement policy and the potential significance of Montenegro’s membership.
As the European Council’s regular meeting on June 27-28 approached, Garčević emphasized the need to accelerate Montenegro’s EU membership. He acknowledged the necessity for Montenegro to expedite its reforms but underscored that the enlargement of the EU is inherently a political process. Historical instances, such as the accession of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus, illustrated that political motivations have consistently played a critical role in the EU’s decision-making process. Even though Greece’s membership faced initial resistance and warnings from the Commission, it was eventually accepted despite concerns.
Garčević drew parallels to other nations like Spain and Portugal, which, despite their nascent democracies and economic struggles at the time of accession, proved to be valuable additions to the EU. These historical precedents highlighted that integrating new members, while challenging, has not hindered the EU’s progress.
The potential accession of Montenegro was viewed by some as risky and poorly timed. However, Garčević argued that welcoming Montenegro could reinforce the legitimacy of the enlargement process and demonstrate the EU’s resilience. If the EU intended to undertake significant institutional reforms, as suggested by the Franco-German working group, Montenegro’s accession could serve as a stable foundation for future enlargement endeavors.