“We can consider the past year as one of the most intense and successful in terms of Montenegro’s EU agenda. We have achieved concrete results that confirm our commitment to the reform process and European integration. It is now crucial to maintain political dialogue and direct all societal actors toward this common goal. Our priority is to fully dedicate ourselves to fulfilling our obligations under the European agenda, setting aside identity and other issues that could cause social divisions,” emphasized Chief Negotiator Predrag Zenović at the 14th Stabilization and Association Committee (SAC) meeting between Montenegro and the European Union, held today in Brussels in a hybrid format.
The Montenegrin side presented the results achieved at the national level, reaffirming its commitment to reforms within the European integration process. Special emphasis was placed on Montenegro’s efforts over the past year in establishing key appointments and restoring institutional functionality in the judiciary, which led to the receipt of the IBAR and the final benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24. “This is a strong signal that Montenegro is on the right path to EU membership. Our goal is clear – to maintain positive momentum and accelerate reform processes in the coming period,” Zenović stated.
According to him, the new Reform and Growth Instrument for the Western Balkans has the potential to accelerate Montenegro’s economic convergence with the EU, while membership in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) will enable better financial connectivity and benefits for citizens and businesses. “Montenegro’s European perspective is not just a political goal but also an economic necessity. We will continue working on strengthening economic stability and competitiveness to ensure a better standard of living for our citizens,” Zenović emphasized.
The European side, led by Valentina Superti, Director for the Western Balkans, and Barbara Jesus Gimeno, Head of Unit B4 for Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Directorate-General for Enlargement of the European Commission, congratulated Montenegro on the progress made in European integration over the past year. This was clearly recognized by the provisional closure of three negotiation chapters at the end of 2024. In this context, it was highlighted that Montenegro is under special attention due to the intensive integration process and that it is expected to continue at the same pace this year to fully capitalize on the existing momentum for the provisional closure of the remaining chapters.
During the discussion, in addition to recognizing the achieved results, areas requiring additional efforts to ensure the continuity of reforms were highlighted, with a particular focus on maintaining good neighborly relations and aligning visa policy with the EU.
“Montenegro can be an example and inspiration for the entire region, but despite the significant progress made, there are still obligations to be fulfilled. Time must not be wasted, given the plan to close all negotiation chapters by the end of 2026. Therefore, maintaining broad political consensus and stability is crucial, as they are decisive for the country’s European path,” stated Superti.
The meeting provided an opportunity to analyze Montenegro’s progress in the EU accession process, discuss challenges, and receive guidelines for the next steps. The conclusions from the meeting will significantly impact the further pace of negotiations and the overall assessment of Montenegro in the EU accession process.
MINISTRY OF EUROPEAN AFFAIRS