Croatia Demands Urgent Resolution of Disputes With Montenegro

The Government of Croatia has signaled that outstanding bilateral disputes with Montenegro must be resolved urgently to prevent them from hindering Montenegro's path to European Union membership. In a letter sent a month ago, Croatia stated that Brussels "cannot and does not want to import bilateral disputes" into the accession process.

Montenegro is currently viewed as a frontrunner for EU membership, with a potential admission date by 2028. However, because the European Union requires unanimity among its 27 member states for new admissions, Croatia possesses effective veto power over the process.

The unresolved issues between the two former Yugoslav republics include border disputes, boat ownership, missing persons, and the placement of memorial plaques. Croatia maintains that these open issues must be settled so they do not burden bilateral relations or the broader accession timeline.