The EU is set to give Montenegro the green light for opening EU accession negotiations, according to a draft text that will be submitted to the European leaders at their summit, on 28-29 June in Brussels. A document quoted by AFPindicates that the European Council will approve the decision to open accession talks with Montenegro – a decision which will be taken on 26 June by the EU ministers in charge of European affairs.

In December 2010, Montenegro obtained the official status of EU candidate country, and now seems set to shortly join Turkey and Iceland – the other two countries currently negotiating their accession to the EU. If the accession negotiations are successful – the process could last several years – Montenegro could be the third of the six former Yugoslav republics to join the EU. Slovenia has been part of the EU since 2004, and in July 2013, Croatia will become the 28th member of the Union.

Serbia obtained the status of candidate country in March, but has not yet been given the green light for the opening of accession negotiations. Macedonia has been a candidate since 2005, but has not yet started accession negotiations – this is because Greece blocked it in spite of the European Commission’s favourable opinion. Bosnia-Herzegovina has yet to present its application for the status of candidate state.