Montenegro’s President told Euronews he’s optimistic about the country’s progress to EU accession by 2028 in an interview we feature on Radio Schuman today.

Jakov Milatović, elected on a pro-EU, anti-corruption platform, has pushed for reforms to meet accession criteria. The country has opened 33 negotiation chapters, with three are provisionally closed. The country also joined NATO in 2017.

Challenges remain, including press freedom, judicial independence, and reducing Russian influence, he said in the interview with Euronews’ Shona Murray.

In the second segment of the podcast, we look at the agriculture and fisheries council today, where EU ministers are set to make significant decisions on fish quotas on the Atlantic and Mediterranean sea.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by  David Brodheim and Georgios Leivaditis. Music by Alexandre Jas.