At the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enlargement but delivered a pointed message to Serbia: progress toward EU membership depends on implementing reforms and aligning with European foreign policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was direct - Serbia cannot continue to balance between Europe, Russia, and China, and must decide where it stands. The summit concluded without a joint declaration. A Franco-German non-paper circulated at the summit proposes a new framework of gradual, reversible integration - allowing candidate countries to participate in certain EU structures as they implement reforms, with participation suspended in the event of backsliding.

The day before the summit, Montenegro's security services turned back 87 Serbian men who arrived by charter flight from Belgrade, citing security concerns. All were returned to Serbia on the same flight and entry bans were announced. The group is reported to be connected to SNS and to have travelled to show support for President Vučić. Montenegrin authorities noted that the individuals had attended high-risk public gatherings and that some had prior records involving violence - suggesting their presence was not intended to be merely symbolic. After the passenger list became public, CRTA found that 10 names matched individuals who had been accredited with para-observer missions aligned with the authorities at local elections.