EU Council President Costa Begins Western Balkans Tour Ahead of Montenegro Summit

European Council President António Costa began a pre-summit tour of the Western Balkans on Monday, June 1, 2026, with remarks delivered in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. He said the European Union summit scheduled for Friday, June 5, in the Adriatic Sea resort of Tivat, Montenegro, is intended to demonstrate that the opportunity for enlargement is real.

Costa stated that amid global geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability, enlargement is a geostrategic interest for Europe.

He added that enlargement is an investment in the peace, stability and security of the continent. The tour itself, he said, is a clear sign that the commitment of the European Union to the Western Balkans is real, as real as the opportunity for enlargement.

Costa will co-chair the summit that will gather EU leaders and top officials from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro.

The six nations are each at a different stage of the accession process, with Montenegro and Albania leading the way. The European Union has recently sought to encourage reform in the candidate nations, fearing growing influence of Russia and China. Ukraine and Moldova are also among about ten countries aspiring to join the bloc.

Candidate countries must bring their laws into line in 35 policy areas, or chapters, ranging from justice standards to farm and fishing rules. All 27 EU members must agree before each chapter can be opened, and then again for it to be closed. Costa said Friday’s event in Tivat will be a clear demonstration of the determination to bring forward cooperation and build on the momentum of the European Union’s enlargement.

Bosnia has lagged behind the others and remains deeply divided along ethnic lines long after the 1992-95 war that killed more than 100,000 people and displaced millions. Bosnian Serb separatist, pro-Russia leadership has been pushing for as much independence as possible, a policy that initially sparked the ethnic conflict after the breakup of the former Yugoslav federation.

-brokered peace agreement, is slated to choose a new High Representative later this week following the resignation of German diplomat Christian Schmidt.

The High Representative has the authority to change laws and fire officials who jeopardize post-war reconciliation. Local media in Bosnia have reported that the Peace Implementation Council member states have been divided over who should take over. Costa said that if the future of the country is in the European Union it is important that the new high representative embodies Bosnia and Herzegovina’s choice to pursue European Union accession.

He told Bosnian officials that now is the time to focus on their goal and accelerate the pace of reforms.