Malta has reiterated its support for European Union enlargement during discussions at the MED9 conference in Trogir, Croatia, where European enlargement and the bloc’s future priorities were among the issues addressed.
Foreign Minister Chris Fearne represented Malta at the conference, which brought together ministers from nine EU Mediterranean countries to discuss matters affecting the region and the wider European Union. Discussions included the EU’s long-term budget, regional security, and relations with neighbouring countries.
Minister Fearne reaffirmed Malta’s position that EU enlargement can contribute to greater prosperity and stability while strengthening Europe’s strategic position. Malta has also called for accession negotiations to progress without unnecessary delays, while maintaining that candidate countries must fulfil the necessary requirements before joining the Union.
The government’s position reflects its support for a merit-based accession process, under which candidate countries should be assessed according to their progress in implementing reforms and meeting EU standards. This approach is particularly relevant to countries in the Western Balkans seeking membership.
Montenegro is among the countries making the most progress towards accession. It has opened all 33 negotiating chapters, with 21 provisionally closed following the latest accession conference on October 12, 2026. The process requires Montenegro to complete the necessary reforms before its membership can be finalised.
Minister Fearne also visited Montenegro in September, where he met Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović. During the meetings, he reaffirmed Malta’s support for Montenegro’s EU membership and welcomed the progress made in accession negotiations.
Official meeting page can be found here.
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