The EU expert team emphasized in its preliminary findings that the Customs Administration demonstrates a high level of professionalism, transparency of work and dedication of its employees, assessing that significant institutional and organizational progress has been achieved in the past period, with an emphasis on the need to strengthen human capacities.
This was announced today by the Customs Administration.
As stated in the statement, in the period from 1 to 5 December 2025, an expert team of the European Commission - Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), together with representatives of the customs administrations of the European Union member states - Germany, the Netherlands, Croatia and Slovenia, carried out a monitoring mission at the Customs Administration of Montenegro.
"The mission was conducted with the aim of assessing administrative capacities, analyzing compliance with European regulations, and reviewing the efficiency of organizational and operational processes under the jurisdiction of the Customs Administration, in light of the temporary closure of Negotiation Chapter 29 - Customs Union by the end of Q2 2026," the statement said.
The Customs Administration adds that during the five-day mission, the EU expert team visited the headquarters of the Customs Administration in Podgorica, as well as several customs offices and regional units - CI Terminal Podgorica, CI Airport Podgorica, CI Customs Post, CI Božaj, CI Vraćenovići, CI Bijelo Polje, CI Dobrakovo, CI Kula, CI Bar and CI Free Zone Port of Bar, where the implementation of customs procedures and practices was analyzed through direct insight.
"The competent organizational units presented their work, development activities and the achieved level of compliance with European Union standards. The EU expert team emphasized in its preliminary findings that the Customs Administration demonstrates a high level of professionalism, as well as transparency of work and dedication of employees, assessing that significant institutional and organizational progress has been achieved in the past period, with an emphasis on the need to strengthen human capacities," the statement reads.
They also said that it has been recognized that the Customs Administration is consistently improving the level of readiness, knowledge and capacity in key areas of customs procedures, which has been fully confirmed through practical field checks.
"European Commission experts expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation, openness and organization during the mission, which also represents an important step in further harmonization with the European customs framework. The Customs Administration will continue to improve its work and strengthen its capacities, remaining fully committed to the implementation of European regulations, the digital transformation of the service and the implementation of best practices of EU member states," the statement concludes.
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