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Montenegro at 20: After Breaking with Serbia and Joining NATO, EU Is the Next Frontier
The anniversary comes as Podgorica has restarted accession talks and sped up reforms, with 41% of citizens identifying as Montenegrins and 33% as Serbs.
- On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Montenegro marks 20 years of independence, now prioritizing full integration into the European Union as its next strategic milestone.
- The 2006 independence referendum saw 55.5% of voters choose to leave the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, ending regional instability that followed the 1990s wars and NATO bombing in Kosovo.
- According to the latest census, around 41% of citizens identify as Montenegrins and about 33% as Serbs, while support for EU membership stands at around 80%.
- President Jakov Milatovic describes NATO membership as a key milestone and aims for EU accession by 2028, though expert Daliborka Uljarevic warns "corruption is still everywhere."
- As Montenegro pursues EU membership, it positions itself as a front-runner among six Western Balkan countries, though experts suggest Serbian leadership fears this success undermines their integration narrative.
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26 Articles
26 Articles
Associated Press News+20 Reposted by 20 other sources
Montenegro at 20: After breaking with Serbia and joining NATO, EU is the next frontier
Montenegro marks 20 years of independence from a union with Serbia this week, celebrating a two-decade transformation that has already brought the Balkan country into NATO.
·United States
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Montenegro looks at its achievements 20 years after independence. But in the jubilee a question comes to the fore. A guest contribution.
In 2006, many people imagined Serbia joining the European Union before Montenegro. Two decades later, Podgorica approached the goal, while Belgrade accumulated political blockages, geopolitical tensions and criticism of the rule of law. Articles / Balkans Courier, One - Slideshow, Montenegro EU, Independence of Montenegro 2006, Montenegro, Serbia, European Questions, Regional Relations
Coverage Details
Total News Sources26
Leaning Left8Leaning Right4Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 33%
C 50%
R 17%
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