Montenegro doubles the number of closed chapters – A landmark achievement on the EU path, giving fresh momentum to the enlargement process

Montenegro has reached a critical milestone on its path to the European Union by closing three negotiation chapters at the Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, marking the first such progress after seven years.

The closure of these chapters represents a turning point not only for Montenegro but also for the European Union, as it reaffirms the EU’s enlargement policy after more than a decade, according to messages conveyed at the Intergovernmental Conference between Montenegro and the EU in Brussels.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić highlighted that this is the third Intergovernmental Conference between Montenegro and the EU in just 11 months, underscoring the unequivocal commitment of both the Montenegrin Government and its European partners to make enlargement a reality.

On behalf of all Montenegrin citizens, I want to say that I am proud, honored, and happy that today, after a long period and considerable efforts, we have managed to maintain your trust in our ability to ensure political stability, implement necessary reforms, and remain focused on our most important foreign policy objective – full EU membership based on merit, said Prime Minister Spajić.

He emphasized that the 17th Intergovernmental Conference represents a pivotal moment for Montenegro as a leader in the EU accession process.

The closed chapters include: Chapter 7 - Intellectual Property Law, Chapter 10 - Information Society and Media, and Chapter 20 - Enterprise and Industrial Policy.

For the first time in more than seven years, we are in a position to close negotiation chapters again! Going forward, we will work even harder and with greater dedication. At the same time, both sides know that this success requires not just hard work, but also motivation, political will, and the alignment of shared values, said Prime Minister Spajić.

He thanked the European Commission and all EU member states for their support, particularly recognizing the efforts of Montenegro’s administration, including approximately 700 civil servants involved in the negotiation process, who received strong encouragement to intensify their work.

The Prime Minister reiterated that there is strong political will in Montenegro to fulfill the EU agenda, as there is no greater priority for the Government.

To prevent any disruptions caused by divisive issues or politically motivated agendas, I recently proposed the ‘Barometer 26’ platform to all political and societal stakeholders. Its goal is to unite all forces behind the generational objective – Montenegro’s EU membership by the end of 2028. Now, all actors have the opportunity to demonstrate, through actions rather than words, that they truly want Montenegro in the EU. The next two years are crucial and must be free of any actions that could jeopardize this noble goal. While we transform Montenegro in pursuit of EU membership, this process also transforms our domestic stakeholders. Montenegro has no time to waste, stated Prime Minister Spajić.

The Prime Minister emphasized Montenegro’s consistent and unwavering alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including sanctions and European values, vowing that this commitment will continue.

We will make every effort to enhance relations with our neighbours. I particularly highlight the importance we place on our relationship and constructive bilateral dialogue with Croatia, grounded in our deep historical, friendly, and cultural ties, Spajić concluded.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, whose country currently holds the EU Council Presidency, congratulated Montenegro on closing chapters after a seven-and-a-half-year gap since the last such achievement.

Today we are doubling the number of closed chapters, and this is a great success for this meeting. We are aware that some member states had concerns, but I want to commend you for the work and effort invested to address those concerns. We believe Montenegro brings new energy and momentum to the enlargement process. As a NATO member, you have already demonstrated a high level of trust, and I am very pleased to see Montenegro advancing toward EU membership, said Szijjártó.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that the meeting serves as a political signal of Montenegro’s steady progress towards EU accession.

Today’s meeting is a testament to the merit-based approach to EU enlargement. Montenegro’s achievement in receiving IBAR in June opened this final phase of the negotiation process, enabling us to close chapters today. This success reflects Montenegro’s efforts to accelerate reforms. Congratulations to Montenegro for this significant achievement, Kos said.

Numerous EU member state representatives emphasized that today’s developments demonstrate that EU enlargement is a reality, and Montenegro has earned this progress.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon noted that Montenegro has renewed its motivation for the EU path over the past year and reaffirmed its leadership in the process.

Montenegro truly has the opportunity to become the next EU member state. The political commitment of Montenegro’s Government to strategic EU goals is evident both in words and actions. Closing these chapters marks the final phase of the accession process, but it is vital to maintain political consensus and focus on closing the remaining chapters by the end of 2026, Fajon stated.

Officials from Brussels underscored that Montenegro has entered the final phase of EU accession, expressing pride in the joint success. They recognized Montenegro’s strong political commitment to achieving its goals and emphasized that Montenegro is on track to join the EU by the end of 2028.

A representative from Croatia welcomed the closure of three chapters, noting, “This demonstrates that your country has the potential to move forward. We also welcome the ambition of this Government to close all remaining chapters within two years – an achievable goal. The Croatian Government will continue to provide support and expertise. Good neighbourly relations are at the heart of European policy, and Croatia appreciates Montenegro’s efforts in this regard.”

At the subsequent press conference, Minister Szijjártó emphasized that the Western Balkan countries have been waiting too long for EU membership – over 15 years.

If we fail to move forward faster, it will harm not only the enlargement policy but also the EU’s credibility. Even when Montenegro demonstrated significant progress in the past, the EU’s response was insufficient, and the merit-based enlargement process stalled, Szijjártó said.

Today we closed chapters, and this achievement is a double victory for Montenegro and the EU. Montenegro is not only a leader but also a desirable future member of the Union, the Hungarian Minister added.

Commissioner Kos concluded that in the last ten years, a total of eight chapters have been closed, six of which were by Montenegro.

This is a significant moment for Montenegro, and I extend my congratulations to the Prime Minister and the team in Podgorica for this achievement. Today we witness another crucial step on Montenegro’s path to EU membership, which I see as a step closer to joining the European family, Kos said.

She further emphasized that the European Commission is committed to accelerating the process and ensuring the ambitious plan for closing chapters is implemented as agreed.