Following intensive diplomatic activity by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and his team, Montenegro will close five chapters at the Intergovernmental Conference on 16 December, the RTCG correspondent from Brussels has reported. According to TVCG, all member states agree that Montenegro should close the planned five chapters.
Montenegro will close the following chapters in its negotiations with the European Union: Chapter 3 (Right of establishment and freedom to provide services), Chapter 4 (Free movement of capital) and Chapter 6 (Company law).
Although France blocked the closure of Chapter 11 (Agriculture and rural development) and Chapter 13 (Fisheries) at yesterday’s meeting of the Council of the EU Working Group – COELA, according to TVCG, the member states will nevertheless give the green light for these chapters as well.
Prime Minister Spajić, as announced, will arrive in Brussels on 16 December, where he will speak at a press conference together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, following the formal ceremony marking the closure of the chapters.
In addition, the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, has communicated with the French state leadership, emphasising the importance of providing support to Montenegro in closing all five chapters at this month’s Intergovernmental Conference, RTCG has learned.
Work on the accession agreement with Montenegro should begin
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that work on Montenegro’s accession agreement with the European Union should begin. He said this a few days ago at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“Here I want to state clearly: it is precisely with Montenegro, which has probably made the most progress among the candidates, that we can now move on to the next step and soon begin work on the accession agreement. This is also in our interest, because the more closely connected we are, the better we can act together in Europe. This is particularly relevant to combating illegal migration. For our two countries, this is of great importance,” Merz said.
Montenegro in the EU by the end of 2028
By closing five chapters, Montenegro would enter the next, probably decisive year with 12 chapters closed, while the goal remains to close more than 20 chapters by 2026, in order to create the conditions for the country to join the European Union by the end of 2028.
Montenegro has also met all the conditions for closing Chapter 31 (Foreign, security and defence policy), but the decision on this was previously postponed at the request of Croatia.
To recall, Montenegro obtained candidate status in December 2010 and opened accession negotiations in June 2012. To date, it has opened 33 negotiating chapters.
(EUpravo zato)
