Key facts
- Montenegro's EU accession is estimated to cost €3 billion between 2028 and 2034.
- The cost is expected to add approximately €1 per EU taxpayer over the budget cycle.
- Montenegro is anticipated to become an EU member by 2028.
- The country is projected to receive €277 million in farmer subsidies, over €1 billion for regional payouts, and €592 million in migration funds.
Montenegro's potential entry into the European Union will incur an estimated cost of €3 billion over the bloc's 2028-2034 budget cycle, according to the European Commission. A senior Commission official described the cost as "a very cheap cup of coffee," estimating it would amount to approximately €1 extra per EU taxpayer. The financial proposal for Montenegro's accession, which is expected by 2028, has been released and requires agreement from EU member states before negotiations can begin.
Montenegro, a country of 600,000 people that became an EU candidate in 2010, is projected to receive substantial funds upon full membership. These include an estimated €277 million in farmer subsidies, over €1 billion for regional and rural development, and €592 million in migration funds. Additionally, domestic businesses could receive up to €523 million from the European Competitiveness Fund, though this amount will be awarded competitively. The total projected receipts for Montenegro stand at €3.1 billion.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the financial package represents a concrete step towards Montenegro's integration into the Union. The Commission's overall estimate for the net cost of accession for all Balkan countries seeking membership is €8 billion over the next seven years. Neighboring countries such as Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Kosovo are also in accession talks with the EU.