Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović participates in the 9th Budapest Balkans Forum

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović participated in the 9th Budapest Balkans Forum held on 13 and 14 March 2025 in Budapest. The forum, organized by the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HIIA), gathered high-ranking political officials, experts, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations from Europe and beyond, with the aim of discussing key political, economic, and security issues of the Balkans and Southeast Europe. 

During a roundtable discussion titled “Warm-up conversation on the achievements of the Hungarian EU Presidency,” Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović expressed gratitude to Hungary for its continued support of Montenegro’s European integration process. He emphasized that EU membership is Montenegro’s strategic goal, and the support of EU member states, such as Hungary, is crucial for achieving this objective.

In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and stability, stressing that joint efforts to improve economic and security aspects are essential for the prosperity of the entire region.

Furthermore, Ivanović reminded the attendees that, thanks to dedicated reform efforts and strong Hungarian support for the enlargement policy, Montenegro closed three negotiation chapters in December of the previous year after seven years of negotiations. 

This achievement marks the culmination of an exceptionally productive year in which, in addition to closing chapters and holding two intergovernmental conferences, Montenegro also achieved significant milestones—receiving a positive Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR), joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) system, and presenting an ambitious Reform Agenda, said Ivanović.

Ivanović emphasized that these successes further motivate Montenegro to remain committed to implementing the necessary reforms and maintaining a clear internal consensus on the country’s European future. He also reiterated that Montenegro remains dedicated to the merit-based principle of EU enlargement and expects that, despite geopolitical challenges, the EU will continue to prioritize its enlargement policy, which remains one of its most important strategic tools.

Achieving enlargement would bring numerous benefits not only to the new member states but would also reaffirm the credibility and significance of the European Union as a geopolitical actor. In this context, we expect that Montenegro will be the next EU member by 2028, stated Ivanović.

In addition to Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović, the roundtable featured Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs János Bóka, Bulgarian Minister of the Interior Daniel Mitov, and Albanian for Europe and Foreign Affairs Megi Fino.