Greece is exploring ways to accelerate Montenegro's accession to the European Union so that the country could become a member by the end of 2027, during Greece's presidency of the Council of the European Union, according to a report by Skai.gr on June 19.

Current EU planning reportedly envisages Montenegro completing its accession process in early 2028, but Athens is examining whether the timetable could be brought forward by several months. Such an outcome would carry significant political and symbolic importance, linking Greece's upcoming EU presidency with the legacy of the 2003 Thessaloniki Declaration, which established the European perspective of the Western Balkans.

As part of this broader strategy, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis visited Podgorica, where he met Montenegro's Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic and Prime Minister Milojko Spajic. Talks focused on bilateral ties, regional developments and Montenegro's EU accession process.

According to the report, Athens regards Montenegro as the most advanced EU candidate in the Western Balkans, having made more progress than its regional peers in implementing the EU acquis. Its relatively small population of around 600,000 is also seen as making accession politically and institutionally less complex.

The visit is part of a wider Greek diplomatic effort to revive the EU enlargement agenda in the Western Balkans. A key element is the Delphi Declaration, signed in April by representatives of Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirming support for the region's European integration.

Greek officials argue that Russia's war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East and the growing influence of external powers in the Western Balkans have made EU enlargement more strategically important.

Against this backdrop, Montenegro is seen as the most realistic candidate to become the bloc's next member, with accession during Greece's 2027 EU presidency viewed as both a diplomatic success and a demonstration of renewed momentum in the enlargement process.