At an Intergovernmental Conference held in Brussels, Montenegro provisionally closed two more negotiating chapters with the European Union (EU), bringing the total number of closed chapters to 23 out of 33. Only ten remain before the planned conclusion of accession negotiations, which is expected by the end of the year.
At the 30th Intergovernmental Conference, Chapter 1 (Free Movement of Goods) and Chapter 12 (Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy) were closed.
Two days earlier, the European Commission presented its annual report on Montenegro’s progress, along with a “roadmap” suggesting that the country could conclude its accession negotiations by the end of 2026 and sign the Accession Treaty in June 2027.
Irish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne stated that Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the EU remains committed to the goal of Montenegro closing all remaining negotiating chapters by the end of the year.
However, he stressed the need for continued reforms, particularly in the areas of the rule of law, strengthening the independence and accountability of institutions, and combating organized crime and corruption.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić emphasized that the closure of these two additional chapters demonstrates the country’s readiness to enter the final phase of European integration.
Spajić said he expected further intergovernmental conferences to be held before the end of the year, during which the remaining chapters should also be closed.
Among them is Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change, one of the most demanding due to the extensive alignment required with European regulations and the substantial financial investments needed for their implementation.
Speaking about Croatia’s demands, Spajić said that teams from both countries were working to resolve outstanding issues and that Podgorica was prepared to make compromises in order to overcome disagreements with Zagreb.
“We will do everything in our power to find a compromise and resolve the issues that could potentially divide us,” he said.
Byrne expressed confidence that the remaining outstanding issues could be resolved to the mutual satisfaction of both countries.
In its report published on November 4, the European Commission assessed that Montenegro had made significant progress and that there was a realistic possibility of concluding negotiations this year, provided that reforms continued to be implemented and the agreement of EU member states was secured.
According to the Commission’s indicative timeline, the Accession Treaty could be signed in June next year, followed by the ratification process in all 27 EU member states, as well as in Montenegro.
The government in Podgorica has set the goal of Montenegro becoming the EU’s 28th member state by 2028. However, this timeframe is not guaranteed and depends on fulfilling the remaining requirements, as well as decisions made by the Union’s member states.
In its latest report, the European Commission acknowledged progress in the aforementioned areas but also warned that the number of final convictions in high-level corruption cases remained low, while lengthy court proceedings and staff shortages continued to undermine the efficiency of the judiciary.
The Commission also pointed to the need for further strengthening institutional independence, ensuring consistent implementation of adopted laws and protecting media freedom, while expressing concern over the influence of foreign media on Montenegro’s media landscape.
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Source: N1, Foto: Gov.me
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