Montenegro
Berlin Process summit in Miločer; Kurti: The moment has come for Kosovo to get candidate status
Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Spajić co-chair the meeting of Western Balkan leaders; Commissioner Kos asks Pristina for “decisive choices.”
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 22, 2026, 10:50 · Updated 12:24 · 1 min read
In brief
- Leaders of the six Western Balkan countries meet today in Miločer, Montenegro, for the Berlin Process summit.
- Albin Kurti called on EU leaders to ask the Commission for an opinion on Kosovo's candidacy.
- Marta Kos said respecting international law will require decisive choices from Kosovo in the coming weeks.
Miločer, near Budva, hosts the Berlin Process leaders' summit today, the closing event of Montenegro's yearlong chairmanship. The meeting is co-chaired by Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with the participation of the leaders of Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
On the agenda are regional economic cooperation, the common regional market, competitiveness and conditions for investors, security, and the implementation of agreements previously signed under the process, which was launched in 2014.
Kurti: Kosovo is ready
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who set off for Montenegro on Wednesday, told reporters that the time has come for Kosovo to receive candidate status and open membership talks. He cited democratic functioning, institutional stability, economic growth and full commitment to the European path, describing Kosovo as an electoral, liberal and egalitarian democracy. Kurti called on EU leaders to ask the European Commission for an opinion on Kosovo's application.
Kosovo submitted its membership application in December 2022 but has not yet received candidate status.
Brussels' message
On the eve of the summit, Commissioner Marta Kos said the region is entering a decisive phase for its European future. On Kosovo, she stressed that respecting international law and the rule of law will require decisive choices in the coming weeks and months, while for Montenegro the priority is closing negotiations. She also mentioned Sunday's elections in Serbia and asked Albania to keep up the pace of integration. Prime Minister Edi Rama is also attending the summit.
