Croatian President Accuses EU of Misleading Western Balkans

• May 30, 2025

Croatia’s President Zoran Milanović has claimed the European Union is misleading Western Balkan countries with empty promises about joining the bloc.

Speaking on May 29 to students at the University of the North in Koprivnica, Milanović said no new EU members would be admitted soon, except possibly Montenegro. He described the EU’s pledges on enlargement as “false promises” used to gain political support, especially against Russia. His comments were widely reported by local media and are likely to stir debate across the region.

Milanović said even Georgia, despite its strong economic growth, would likely remain outside the EU. His remarks also appeared to dismiss the chances of Albania, which many believe is one of the top candidates for EU accession, joining the bloc by the end of the decade.

This position contradicts that of EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who stated in March that Albania and Montenegro could complete EU accession talks by 2026 or 2027. Leaders from several EU member states in Central and Southeast Europe, including Milanović’s political rival, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, continue to support expansion into the Western Balkans.

Back in 2003, the EU promised eventual membership to the six Western Balkan countries: Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro. Yet none of them have joined, and progress has been slow or stalled. Serbia, for example, has not opened a new negotiation chapter since 2021 and has faced EU criticism for refusing to support sanctions on Russia. North Macedonia’s progress has been blocked by disputes with Greece and Bulgaria.

Milanović also criticised the EU more broadly, saying it had lost its global influence to the United States and China. He pointed out that European car sales were declining and mocked the EU’s approach to China, saying Europe lectures Beijing on human rights instead of focusing on trade.

On the Ukraine conflict, he said the war is one of attrition and blamed Western policy for pushing Kyiv away from Moscow. He has repeatedly opposed Croatia’s pro-Ukraine stance, clashing with the government led by the HDZ party.

Milanović also criticised U.S. policy on Israel, blaming its support for the Israeli government for rising violence against Palestinians. He ended with a sarcastic comment that there has never been a coup in the U.S. “because there is no American embassy there.”