June 30, 2020 – Most of the Western Balkans’ leaders have been advocating for reforms and good neighborly relations at summits and conferences for years, but without putting words into action, said Pierre Mirel, former director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement.
In December 2010, Montenegro became a candidate for EU membership. Eight years after Montenegro opened EU accession talks, Mirel told Vijesti that the “captive state” was still prevalent in most Western Balkan countries, with Montenegro and Serbia considered leaders in European integration, and now considered “hybrid regimes”.