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EU Seeks Solution for Montenegro's Euro Status, a Hurdle to Accession
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Economy & Trade

EU Seeks Solution for Montenegro's Euro Status, a Hurdle to Accession

From N1 Serbia · (7m ago) Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Montenegro hopes to join the EU by 2028 but faces an obstacle due to its decades-long unilateral use of the euro.
  • The European Commission is working on a pragmatic solution, with a proposal expected by the end of the month.
  • The country is also securing funding for debt servicing and infrastructure projects, aiming to stabilize its debt-to-GDP ratio.

Montenegro is actively pursuing its strategic goal of European Union membership, with a target of 2028. However, a significant hurdle remains: the country's long-standing, unilateral adoption of the euro as its currency. This situation, unprecedented for the EU, presents a unique challenge that the Montenegrin government is working closely with the European Commission to resolve.

Finance Minister Novica Vukoviฤ‡ expressed optimism, stating that the European Commission is prepared to address this sensitive issue pragmatically. A proposal to settle the euro status is anticipated by the end of this month, offering a potential pathway forward for Montenegro's accession process. This move underscores Montenegro's commitment to meeting the democratic and economic criteria for EU membership.

Evropska komisija pokazala je spremnost da to pitanje reลกi na pragmatiฤan naฤin

โ€” Novica Vukoviฤ‡Montenegrin Minister of Finance Novica Vukoviฤ‡ stated the European Commission's readiness to pragmatically resolve the issue of Montenegro's unilateral euro use.

Beyond accession, Montenegro is also focused on economic stability and development. The government plans to secure substantial funding for debt servicing and crucial infrastructure projects over the next two years, totaling 2.1 billion euros. Efforts include seeking loans from international organizations and commercial creditors, potentially with World Bank guarantees. The aim is to reduce borrowing needs by 2027 and build fiscal reserves, demonstrating a responsible approach to managing the nation's finances. Credit rating agencies Moody's and S&P have acknowledged these plans, revising their outlooks for Montenegrin debt to positive, reflecting growing confidence in the country's economic management.

Nakon toga, oฤekujemo stabilizaciju i silaznu putanju duga u odnosu na bruto domaฤ‡i proizvod

โ€” Novica Vukoviฤ‡Montenegrin Minister of Finance Novica Vukoviฤ‡ expressed expectations for debt stabilization and a downward trend relative to GDP after current financing measures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.