Croatia warns Montenegro over EU accession border dispute
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has warned that Montenegro will not be able to complete its European Union accession negotiations as planned unless it agrees to resolve a long-standing border dispute with Croatia.
Speaking in the Croatian Parliament on Wednesday, Plenkovic said Zagreb had submitted a proposal to Podgorica for the demarcation of their shared land border, insisting that Montenegro must accept the principles established by the Badinter Commission during the breakup of Yugoslavia.
He warned that rejecting those principles would have serious consequences for Montenegro's EU membership ambitions.
“If this does not suit them, then they are sending the message that we cannot accept the principles of the Badinter Commission,” Plenkovic said, adding that Montenegro would not be able to conclude its accession negotiations as planned.
Montenegro rejects Croatia's position
Montenegro responded by insisting that it does not dispute the Badinter Commission's principles, arguing instead that the shared border in the disputed area has never been fully demarcated.
In a statement to public broadcaster Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG), the office of Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said the former boundary between the Yugoslav republics must first be established.
Podgorica expressed its willingness to reach a compromise through bilateral negotiations or refer the dispute to an appropriate international body if an agreement cannot be reached.
The Badinter Commission, established during the dissolution of Yugoslavia, upheld the principle that the former republics' internal administrative borders would become international boundaries following independence.
Although both countries recognise this principle, they disagree over the precise location and demarcation of their shared border.
Croatia raises additional demands
The border dispute is part of a broader list of unresolved issues Croatia has linked to Montenegro's EU accession process.
According to Croatian media reports, Zagreb has presented several demands to EU member states and institutions, including compensation for former Croatian prisoners detained at the Morinj camp during the wars of the 1990s.
Other issues include locating missing persons, prosecuting war crimes, protecting the property rights of Croatian families and securing the return of the Jadran naval training ship.
The disagreements have already affected Montenegro's accession timetable. Following Croatia's intervention, EU leaders removed a reference to Montenegro completing its membership negotiations by the end of 2026 from the conclusions of an EU summit.
Montenegro maintains 2028 membership target
Montenegro opened EU accession negotiations in 2012 and has provisionally closed 23 of the 33 negotiating chapters.
The government in Podgorica aims to complete the remaining negotiations and join the European Union as its 28th member state by 2028.
However, Croatia's latest warning highlights the potential obstacles facing that ambition.
As an EU member state, Croatia has a role in decisions concerning the advancement and conclusion of accession negotiations, giving Zagreb significant influence over Montenegro's path towards membership.
Source:AA
