WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
Choose language:
AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
According to an analysis by the Montenegrin watchdog organization "Unmasking", claims published by numerous Montenegrin media outlets, including Vijesti, Dan, RTCG, Gradski portal, Borba, IN4S and RTNK, attribute content to the Brussels-based magazine EU Observer that is not part of their original text. These claims relate to the alleged position that Montenegro, while Milo Đukanović was in power, could not become a member of the European Union, but that membership is now realistic to expect.
What is really written in EU Observer?
In the EU Observer analysis entitled "What 2025 brings for the EU and the Balkans", neither Milo Đukanović nor the former or current government of Montenegro are mentioned anywhere. The article focuses on Montenegro's progress in the negotiation process, stating that the closing of the negotiation chapters in December 2024 is a significant step and that 2025 could bring the closing of seven more chapters.
Thus, in numerous Montenegrin media outlets, such as Vijesti (Archived), Dan (Archived) RTCG (Archived), Gradski portal (archived) Borba (Archived) IN4S, (Archived), RTNK (Archived), one could read the following information:
"Montenegro under Đukanović's rule could not join the EU, and now membership is realistically expected".
This news was attributed to the reputable Brussels-based magazine Euobserver.com, which reports on European affairs.
EU Observer praises Montenegro's efforts, but in no part of the analysis does it make any claims about the country's EU accession being blocked due to the former president or political reasons. The article emphasizes that Montenegro has an ambitious goal of becoming an EU member by 2028, and that achieving this goal requires close cooperation and acceleration of reforms.
How did the disinformation originate?
The disinformation originated by reprinting information from the website of the Serbian agency Beta, which in its report “Analyses in the EU: Western Balkans still in the waiting room for membership, but closer to the door” sublimates statements from several sources, including EU Observer and Politico. Beta cited claims about the EU Council’s position towards Montenegro while Đukanović was in power, but these claims were not found in the EU Observer article.
Some Montenegrin media outlets then reprinted this information without further verification, attributing it to EU Observer. This information was further amplified on social media (in multiple posts), which made the disinformation widely spread.
The published analysis, titled “What 2025 Holds for the EU and the Balkans” (archived), points out that in addition to the current member states, Brussels can recognize and reward the progress Montenegro has made in recent years by setting a date for its accession to the bloc.
“With Montenegro’s ambitious goal of becoming a member by 2028, both the EU and Montenegro will need to act quickly to make this enlargement goal a reality, but it is certainly possible. With three negotiation chapters closed in December 2024 (the first chapters closed in seven years), and seven more chapters expected to be closed in 2025, Brussels can show that enlargement remains an achievable goal for the Balkans,” the analysis states.
It also says that “as the Adriatic country continues its ambitious reforms, Brussels should not miss the opportunity to adequately prepare both itself and its future member for accession to the bloc.”
“Moreover, by providing a target date together with the preparation of the final legal documents for accession, Brussels can underline its renewed commitment to enlargement within the current Commission mandate. By providing the necessary support and encouragement to Montenegro’s accession efforts in 2025, other candidate countries in the Balkans will have the opportunity to see accession to the bloc as a realistic possibility, with real political capital from all sides,” the article on Montenegro states.
“The Unmasking” has determined that these statements are not found in the original text of the European media.
“Therefore, in no part of the text are there any mentions of the current or former authorities, but rather praises the progress made by the country in the previous year. It also does not personally mention Đukanović or any other Montenegrin politician,” the analysis states.
The Unmasking assessment
“The Unmasking” assessed the publications in the Montenegrin media as disinformation. This category refers to media reports that use known facts but interpret them in a misleading way, drawing incorrect conclusions and leading readers to wrong conclusions.
In this case, the media made claims that were not present in the EU Observer analysis, thereby creating narratives that are not based on verified facts.
