Montenegro and the West: What the Public Really Thinks About EU and NATO Membership

Montenegro has spent much of the past decade pursuing Euro-Atlantic integration. NATO membership was secured in 2017, and EU accession has been positioned as a national priority. Yet behind the official rhetoric, public opinion tells a more complex story. New polling from June 2025 shows that while support for both EU and NATO membership remains relatively strong, it is far from unanimous and increasingly fragmented along party, generational and geopolitical lines.

In a country marked by political transition, coalition instability and shifting identities, the path westward may still be the dominant direction, but it is no longer a consensus.

EU Membership: Broad Support but Rising Uncertainty

Public support for EU membership remains relatively high and has grown slightly since the last polling wave in March. In June, a combined 60% of respondents said they either strongly (33%) or somewhat (27%) support Montenegro becoming a full EU member, up from 56% in March.

At the same time, opposition has ticked upward. 14% now strongly oppose EU accession and 9% somewhat oppose it. This represents a small but notable increase. Perhaps most significantly, the share of undecided voters or those unwilling to answer has grown from 6% to 17%. This suggests a degree of political fatigue or growing scepticism as Montenegro continues its slow march toward Brussels.

This rising ambivalence is especially pronounced among younger voters. Just 24% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they strongly support EU membership, compared to 33% of those aged 55 and over. Women are also slightly less enthusiastic than men, with 31% expressing strong support compared to 35% of men.

Party affiliation remains a key fault line. Voters for the long-dominant Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which traditionally led EU integration efforts, show the strongest support. 85% back accession, a figure higher than among supporters of Europe Now, the current ruling party, where 78% are in favour. The pro-Serbian, anti-EU For the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG) bloc is predictably divided, with 43% supporting and 43% opposing. Meanwhile, minority parties like the Bosniak Party and Albanians Together show near-unanimous support, with 100% of their voters backing EU membership.

Is EU Membership Still a Priority?

While support for membership remains strong, voters are less united on how urgently it should be pursued. Just 29% of respondents believe EU accession should be the government’s top priority. Another 32% say it is important but not the most urgent. Meanwhile, 8% view it as a low priority, 13% think it should not be pursued at all, and 19% remain unsure.

Once again, DPS voters are the most committed. 52% say EU membership should be the government’s top goal. Among Europe Now supporters, that figure drops to 31%, reflecting a more measured stance. Among ZBCG voters, 43% say EU accession should be a low priority, highlighting how far apart these political camps remain.

Ethnic minority voters again stand out for their consistency. Among Albanians Together supporters, 100% say EU accession should be at least an important priority. Among Bosniak Party voters, 62% say it should be a key issue even if not the highest concern. Age plays a role too. Older voters are more likely to view EU membership as a top priority while younger Montenegrins are less motivated by the cause.

Foreign Policy Preferences: The EU Leads but Not Uncontested

When asked to name Montenegro’s most important foreign policy partner, 39% of respondents chose the European Union. However, 21% said they did not know or preferred not to answer. 13% named Russia, 12% Serbia, 8% the United States and 6% China.

These figures suggest that Montenegro’s geopolitical identity remains unsettled. Among DPS and Europe Now voters, the EU dominates. 74% and 40% of these supporters respectively name Brussels as their preferred partner. Among ZBCG voters, Russia is favoured by 43%, while none selected the EU.

The generational divide is particularly striking. Among 18 to 24-year-olds, just 21% see the EU as Montenegro’s top foreign policy partner, far below other age groups. This cohort is more fragmented. 16% prefer Russia, 12% Serbia and 17% China, which is 12 points higher than in any other group. While older voters remain anchored to Euro-Atlantic institutions, younger Montenegrins appear more globally ambivalent.

NATO Membership: Gains in Support but Resistance Remains

Montenegro’s NATO membership continues to divide public opinion. Support has grown since March, but strong opposition remains entrenched, particularly among opposition voters.

In the June poll, 48% of Montenegrins said they support NATO, with 23% strongly supporting and 25% somewhat supporting. This is up from 37% in March. However, 40% of respondents oppose membership. 12% somewhat oppose and 28% strongly oppose, up from 18% three months earlier. This suggests that public opinion is becoming more polarised.

Support is highest among DPS voters. 49% express strong support for NATO. Only 18% of Europe Now voters say the same, which is surprising given the party’s pro-Western image. Among ZBCG voters, opposition is significant. 43% strongly oppose NATO while only 29% express strong support.

Minority parties remain among the strongest supporters. All respondents who support Albanians Together or the Bosniak Party expressed support for NATO membership.

Montenegro remains officially committed to a Euro-Atlantic future. EU membership enjoys steady support and NATO backing has recovered from previous lows. Yet these overall numbers mask important divisions.

Among younger voters, enthusiasm for Western alliances is declining. Many are now looking to powers like China and Russia. Among political parties, the loudest backing for integration no longer comes from the ruling coalition but from the opposition DPS. Ethnic minority parties remain the most stable and consistent supporters of Western alignment.

The Westward path is still open, but it is no longer taken for granted. Montenegro’s leaders will need to do more than manage foreign relations. They will need to persuade their own citizens, particularly the younger generation, that the Western model still offers the best future for the country.

Download the data tables for this poll.