EU Accession & Border Readiness: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Montenegro is preparing to run “EU borders” and is expected to move toward Schengen, pointing to a new border police coordination center in Podgorica as the country pushes to finish EU talks and join by 2028. Transport & Infrastructure: Montenegro broke ground on a €237.47m Budva bypass (about 8 km, incl. tunnels and bridges) to cut summer congestion and improve links between the Budva-Cetinje and Budva-Tivat roads, with construction expected to take four years. Energy Affordability: New OECD figures show energy poverty remains severe in the region, with Albania at 38% of households unable to keep homes warm (Montenegro at 14%, Serbia at 9.5%), while Albania plans measures through a Social Protection Strategy to tackle bills and expand solar use. Labour Mobility & Construction Impact: Germany plans to halve Western Balkans work-visa approvals from 50,000 to 25,000 from Jan 1, 2027, raising concerns from the construction sector about staffing shortages for major infrastructure projects. Digital Trade Momentum: Albania’s online sales keep rising—26% of businesses sold online in 2025—while Montenegro lags at 18%, highlighting uneven e-commerce take-up across the Western Balkans. Cybersecurity & Regional Risk: Montenegro-linked reporting highlights the extradition of an Iranian national from Montenegro to the US over a large hacking scheme, underscoring how regional enforcement is tightening against cross-border cybercrime.