Van Rompuy: Montenegro Likely to Become EU's 29th Member State

Montenegro will likely become the next country to join the European Union after Croatia, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has revealed.

Van Rompuy's statement came after a meeting with Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic at the International Peace Conference in Sarajevo.

The European Council President noted that Montenegro's success in quickly receiving candidate status and the opening of membership talks were evidence that the bloc's doors were open for Adriatic the country.

Vujanovic said that Montenegro is committed to EU integration and that parliamentary elections due next month will give the government of Montenegro democratic legitimacy, Balkan Insight informs.

The early elections are scheduled to be held on October 14. This comes following a vote by lawmakers in July to dissolve parliament and head to early polls after the EU opened accession talks in June.

Croatia will join the European Union in July 2013, becoming the second former Yugoslav country to enter the bloc after Slovenia.