The path to the European Union (EU) does not depend solely on meeting technical criteria, but on the country's reputation as a reliable and predictable partner, the Strategy for a European and Civic Montenegro (STEGA) announced today.
"After great uncertainty, Montenegro will nevertheless close a total of five negotiation chapters with the European Union, including chapters 11 and 13 - agriculture and fisheries. However, the fact that the agreement to close chapters 11 and 13 came after a certain delay, with the previous withholding of support from France, indicates that this is not solely a technical issue, but a broader political-economic context in which the enlargement process is taking place," the STEGA statement emphasizes.
The statement added that France, despite strong internal reservations towards EU enlargement, has been a reliable and engaged partner to Montenegro for years, precisely because of the perception that it is the most serious candidate in the region.
"This support was not symbolic. France was one of the rare partners that simultaneously offered financing, technical assistance and political patronage to Montenegro. The contract with the French Development Agency (AFD) in the amount of 50 million euros represented a policy loan, clearly linked to reform goals in the field of energy, climate policies, institutional strengthening and harmonisation with European standards. The loan was accompanied by grants, technical and expert assistance, as well as support in the preparation of large infrastructure projects," said STEGA.
They state that, in addition, an intergovernmental agreement was signed on priority projects in the areas of healthcare, energy, digitalization, and transport.
"Thus, France invested not only money, but also its reputation in Montenegro's European path. In parallel, through the activities of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro and bilateral contacts, French investors expressed interest in innovative projects - digital technologies, startup ecosystem, smart energy solutions and green technologies. This was a signal that Montenegro was viewed as a potential long-term partner, and not just as a space for short-term infrastructure arrangements. This is precisely why the subsequent moves of the Government of Montenegro were perceived as a serious problem, because they came at a time when France, despite its own internal dilemmas regarding enlargement, had already decided to provide credible support to Montenegro," the statement reads.
STEGA said that the first serious signal of a breach of that trust appeared in May 2025, when the French bidder withdrew from the airport concession process, following changes to the rules during the process by the tender committee.
"The reasons were not commercial, but procedural. Given that airports represent strategic infrastructure, and concession procedures are a test of institutional stability and legal certainty, changing the rules during the process is interpreted in international practice as a clear signal of political unpredictability and possible corruption. In June 2025, Montenegro will launch a public call for auctions for the allocation of the right to a market premium for solar power plants at unspecified locations, with the planned opening of bids in November. This is a market mechanism aligned with EU rules and intended for large international developers. In this context, interest was expected from French companies with experience in renewable energy sources that have already implemented or intend to implement projects in Montenegro. Although the bids were opened in November, there is no information about the results to date," STEGA said.
The statement states that in July 2025, the situation takes on a broader, European dimension.
"The signing of an agreement with the United Arab Emirates on cooperation in the field of real estate development, which opens up space for the implementation of large projects outside of standard public procurement procedures, has raised concerns at the European Union level. The temporary closure of the public procurement chapter was a clear signal that the basic principles of the single market, namely transparency, competition and equal treatment of bidders, are being called into question," said STEGA.
They state that in October 2025, an investment conference was held in Luštica, where French companies actively participated in panels dedicated to energy, renewable energy sources, network infrastructure, and advanced technologies.
"Their presence showed that interest still exists, but also that decisions are being made with increased caution. Almost immediately after the conference, the Government of Montenegro signed an Agreement on Cooperation with the UAE in the field of energy, which establishes a strategic partnership in the development of renewable energy sources, modern energy infrastructure and advanced technologies," said STEGA.
STEGA notes that, combined with the previous real estate agreement, this move has further reinforced the perception of a parallel investment framework that is not fully aligned with European rules and that the Cena Gora Government is sitting on several chairs.
"In such an environment, France's decision in December 2025 to announce the blockade of chapters 11 and 13 and then approve them anyway can be understood as one of the possible responses to the accumulated loss of trust. Chapters were chosen that are not at the very core of the rule of law, but which have sufficient political weight to send a clear message, without provoking an open institutional crisis. This case clearly shows how interconnected economics and politics are in the process of European integration," said STEGA.
STEGA also states that formally technical decisions often carry a political message, while economic arrangements have long-term political consequences.
"For Montenegro, this represents a warning, but also an opportunity: to reconsider its own moves, restore the trust of its partners and understand that the European path is not guided by improvisations, but by consistency. The path to the European Union does not depend solely on meeting technical criteria, but on the state's reputation as a reliable and predictable partner. It is in this regard, at the end of 2025, that Montenegro received a serious and well-intentioned warning from a partner who, despite its own reservations about enlargement, had been ready to trust it until then," reads the STEGA statement.
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