A senior European Union official has sharply criticized Montenegro after an investigative journalist was shot, and has warned the issue could hamper the Balkan country's bid to join the bloc.

Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn met Friday with Olivera Lakic, a crime and corruption reporter for the Vijesti daily who was shot and wounded Tuesday outside her home in the capital, Podgorica.

Hahn says the attack was "clearly an attack on media freedom, on freedom of expression, one of the core values of the European Union."

He added: "It is something that is not acceptable to us ... this is a negative track record I am looking for a positive track record." He warns that "without proper engagement and resolution of all this there won't be a European perspective."