Gjeloshaj: A historic milestone for Montenegro - closing negotiation chapters is a proud moment for all

A great day for Montenegro and the EU

Every effort and hard work are rewarded in the end.

Since 1 November 2023, when we assumed office in the Government of Montenegro, we have made immense efforts to position Montenegro as a country that is both determined and capable of joining the European Union.

While many doubted our ability at the beginning, and perhaps there was skepticism in Brussels, the members of this Government, led by the Prime Minister, believed otherwise. We received IBAR and a new stage has begun, and we are focusing on finally starting to close chapters.

The ambitious goals we set out to achieve were, for some, an impossible mission. But we believed. We believed that we could begin closing chapters this year.

Today, we are expecting the long-awaited news: Montenegro will finally start closing negotiation chapters after 12 years of waiting. This marks the beginning of a phase that will demand even more hard work and a greater sense of responsibility.

Could we have done more? Probably. Are there impossible things? No, there aren’t. Under these circumstances, in just one year of the Government’s work and with this parliamentary majority, reaching a point where we can close 3 or 4 chapters is a huge success.

(As for whether it will be 3 or 4 chapters, the number matters less now. What is clear is that everyone knows the reasons behind the challenges if it ends up being 3, and also the reasons why we were cautiously optimistic about achieving 4.)

In any case and regardless of the decision, I am grateful to friendly Croatia, because even these dilemmas that exist are a great help for those who have not understood to finally realize where our problem lies. Friends are there to point that to us and we are optimistic about resolving these issues!

I am particularly proud and fulfilled to have personally contributed, together with my team at the Ministry of Economic Development, to the successful closure of two chapters and partially contributed to a third chapter, which was driven by the outstanding work of Minister Vujović and Minister Dukaj.

The most important message is that Montenegro can and wants to join the EU, with the encouragement that next year we will all work even harder to close as many chapters as possible. Our ambitions will remain as high as they were this year, and this year, we achieved them.

From the very beginning, I knew that the European aspirations of the Prime Minister, the Minister of European Affairs, and all of us who took office on 31 October 2023, could be realized if we remained focused.

Were there obstacles along the way? Yes, there were. Perhaps we could have closed more chapters, but now it is clear to us—and to our society and partners—where the challenges lie. I am confident that we have the strength to overcome them for the benefit of our children and a European Montenegro.

Today, every citizen of Montenegro should celebrate, feel accomplished, and take pride as Montenegro’s representatives officially close negotiation chapters in Brussels on Monday.

We will keep moving forward and will not allow anyone to derail our dreams and the dreams of our citizens for Montenegro to join the EU by 2028!

My heartfelt thanks go to my incredible team at the Ministry of Economic Development for their hard work, dedication, and professionalism. Your contributions to closing these chapters are paving the way for a brighter future for our children and the European future of Montenegro.