22 June 2026 European Movement Ireland was delighted to welcome H.E. Ms Maida Gorčević, Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro, for a discussion on EU enlargement and Montenegro’s path to European Union membership.
As Ireland prepares for its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this event has provided a timely opportunity to reflect on how Europe is changing in this new political age. European Movement Ireland CEO, David Geary, moderated a thought-provoking conversation on European Union enlargement, Montenegro’s accession bid, Ireland’s role in Europe, and the key international and political considerations shaping the enlargement agenda.
Following the event, European Movement Ireland CEO, David Geary, said, “Ireland remembers what it was like to stand at Europe’s door. Our own journey to EU membership was not straightforward, but it demonstrated that countries prepared to undertake difficult reforms and work towards shared European values should have a credible path to membership. It was a privilege to hear directly from Minister Gorčević about Montenegro’s journey and what its future membership of the European Union could mean for Europe. As Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union next week, enlargement will rightly be at the heart of the European agenda. Today’s discussion reinforced the importance of keeping enlargement at the heart of the public conversation and sharing the experiences of the countries on the path to European Union membership. Ireland hopes to lay down the groundwork for the first accession of a new member state since 2013. We look forward to seeing the relationship between Montenegro and Ireland develop over the next six months”
Montenegro made its initial bid to join the European Union in 2008, with accession negotiations beginning in 2012. Montenegro hopes to become the 28th EU member state in 2028 following a 20-year process.