Montenegro

Montenegro is a Balkan nation currently in the process of joining the European Union. Uniquely, it adopted the Euro as its currency in 2002 without a formal agreement with the EU, a situation posing challenges for EU institutions as accession nears. Montenegro is newsworthy due to its EU candidacy and its unusual monetary situation. Recent news also highlights a darker side: the country is identified as a source of illicit weapons fueling violence in Sweden and elsewhere. A recent mass shooting within Montenegro itself underscores the issue of gun violence. This combination of EU integration efforts and its role in regional arms trafficking makes Montenegro a significant focus of international attention.