Is Montenegro Really Ready for the EU? | Danilo Kalezić

Montenegro has long been described as the frontrunner in the European Union's enlargement process. The government insists the country can join the EU by 2028. But how realistic is that timeline?In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra Karppisits down with political analyst Danilo Kalezić from the University of Montenegro to unpack the country's complex political reality. They discuss the growing gap between Brussels' optimism and developments on the ground, the influence of Serbia and Russia, tensions with Croatia, and whether Montenegro risks becoming another source ofinstability inside the EU itself.Can Montenegro truly become the next EU member state, or is the enlargement narrative masking deeper democratic and geopolitical challenges?Talk Eastern Europe is the podcast from New Eastern Europe magazine - your trusted source for in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the post-Soviet space.ABOUT THIS PODCASTWe publish twice weekly:- Every Tuesday: Expert Interviews featuring deep dives with leading analysts, journalists, and scholars- Every Friday: Weekly News Roundup with essential updates and commentary on the latest developmentsAvailable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major platforms.Read the New Eastern Europe Magazine Bimonthly publication with exclusive long-form analysis. https://neweasterneurope.eu/become-a-member-of-new-eastern-europe/Support us on PatreonJoin our community for bonus content, early access, behind-the-scenes insights, and access to our exclusive WhatsApp group where we discuss the news in real-time.https://www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeSubscribe to the Brief Eastern Europe NewsletterWeekly briefing sent out every Monday with news updates, expert commentary, and our editorial picks - free to your inbox: https://briefeasterneurope.eu/subscribeFOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/neweasterneuropemag/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewEasternEurope/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-eastern-europe/