On October 2, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Podgorica for an official visit, during which she delivered a joint statement with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. In her remarks, von der Leyen thanked the prime minister for his warm welcome and noted the importance of cooperation between the European Union and Montenegro. The key event of the visit will be the inauguration of a new National Coordination Center, scheduled for the following morning. The facility is intended to strengthen the country's institutional capacity and foster closer integration of Montenegro into European structures. The visit takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing process of Montenegro's negotiations for accession to the European Union, which remains one of the country's foreign policy priorities. The European Commission has repeatedly emphasized its readiness to support reforms in the Balkan state aimed at meeting European standards in the areas of rule of law, economy, and governance. The meeting between the two leaders confirms both sides' commitment to deepening bilateral partnership and further advancing Montenegro along its path toward European integration.