EU Leaders Meet Western Balkan Candidates in Montenegro to Advance Accession Talks

European Council President António Costa met with leaders from six Western Balkan countries in Montenegro on Friday to discuss steps toward European Union membership. The summit brings together EU institutional figures and up to 30 European heads of state with leaders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

Costa visited all six Western Balkan countries over the past five days. He described Montenegro as a frontrunner alongside Albania for EU membership. "Montenegro shows that effectively it's possible to move forward on this enlargement," Costa said.

Hungary lifted its veto on Ukraine's EU accession process on Wednesday. Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that Hungary would release the veto within three weeks. A deal between Hungary and Ukraine on minority rights for the Hungarian population in Ukraine preceded the decision.

The EU recorded a €98 billion trade deficit with China in the first quarter of 2026.

EU interior ministers discussed narrowing temporary protection status for Ukrainians at a meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday. Several countries proposed excluding military-age men from the scheme.

The EU approved a ban on maritime services for Russian tankers in late April but has not implemented it. Diplomats cited lack of support from other G7 members as a reason for the delay.