Is Minority Protection Still an EU Criterion for Enlargement Countries? Minority Struggles in Montenegro in the Shadow of Geopolitical Pressures

Montenegro is considered the frontrunner in the process of European Union accession. Yet, despite progress in negotiations, the country in recent years has not been immune to the turbulent dynamics that have engulfed both the region and the wider international order. Paradoxically, Montenegro’s integration path has advanced in parallel with worrying signs of regression in core democratic and human rights standards. Deep societal polarization, ethno-nationalist rhetoric, fragile institutions, and pronounced populist politics illustrate how the country shifts between antagonistic geopolitical poles. For Montenegro’s minorities, European integration has long been understood not only as a political project, but also as a cultural shelter. As communities embodying the EU’s motto “united in diversity,” minorities have made an immeasurable contribution to Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory. Despite their contribution to the majorain state building processes, there is nevertheless a perception that minorities have not received their equal and deserved place in country’s society. European regional regimes, most notably the Council of Europe, the European Union and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, have played a crucial role in securing legislative guarantees and institutional mechanisms for minority protection. However, recent reports by civil society and international organizations point to regression in practice. Interethnic tensions, hate speech, historical revisionism and weakened institutional safeguards reveal a paradox: Montenegro is moving forward in accession negotiations while sliding backwards in the protection of minorities. The paper argues that minority protection in enlargement countries cannot be regarded as a criterion that has already been fulfilled or one that requires little further attention. On the contrary, it remains a fragile and contested domain that demands continuous monitoring, reinforcement, and prioritization. In Montenegro, minority voices, although present, are often sidelined or passive at moments when they should be central in a multiethnic society committed to protecting democratic values and equality. This situation illustrates both the paradox of enlargement and the urgent need to revitalize multilateral mechanisms that place minority protection back at the heart of European integration.