France and Germany propose associate EU membership for candidate countries (euobserver.com)

• France and Germany propose associate membership to speed up EU enlargement.
• Albania and Montenegro support gradual integration; Ukraine rejects it.
• Montenegro hopes for full membership by 2028.

"At the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, France and Germany proposed a gradual integration model to speed up enlargement. The associate membership would let candidates attend EU meetings without voting rights. Montenegro and Albania support the idea as an interim step, while Ukraine rejects it, demanding full membership. Montenegro hopes to join by 2028."