The European Commission's (EC) annual report on Montenegro for 2025 will likely be presented in early November, the Brussels administration told "Vijesti".
"(The presentation) is scheduled for the beginning of November, but for now, that is only a tentative time," the EC told the editorial staff when asked when the new report for Montenegro and other candidate countries for EU accession would be presented.
In this document, the EC assesses the progress of each candidate country in fulfilling the membership criteria - in particular in the areas of the rule of law, democracy, institutions, public administration, economy, and alignment with the EU acquis. The reports provide recommendations that the country should implement in the coming years, and point out weaknesses and areas that require greater engagement.
Last year's report was presented at the end of October 2024. One of the key findings was that the Montenegrin judiciary and prosecutor's office are still perceived as vulnerable to political pressure, and that key fighters against organized crime and corruption do not have enough people or working conditions.
"Montenegro has made good progress in judicial reform, the fight against corruption, freedom of expression and the media, but its institutions are fragile and vulnerable to political crises and potential institutional blockages," the document states.
“Significant progress” was noted in two chapters, “good progress” in six, “limited progress” in 22, while three chapters were “no progress”.
It was also stated that renewed tensions and inter-ethnic polarization, disagreements within the Government, strengthening the efficiency and independence of the judiciary and prosecution, resolving war crimes, the mafia's entry into the system... - remain challenges.
Montenegro applied for candidate status for full EU membership in 2008. It was granted in 2010, and accession negotiations began on 29 June 2012. Since then, Montenegro has opened all chapters, 33, and temporarily closed six (three of which at the end of last year, and one in June this year).
The Government has said several times over the past year and this year that they plan to close all chapters by the end of 2026, in order to implement the plan for Montenegro to become a member in 2028.
The EC and Brussels officials have not previously tied accession to a fixed year, but to the fulfillment of negotiation obligations. However, to messages from Podgorica that the goal is 2028, they reacted with comments - "ambitious, but achievable", also mentioning 2029 as a possible year for EU enlargement. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos recently said that new accessions to the EU are possible in 2028 or 2029.
"Montenegro aims to complete negotiations by the end of 2026. After that, decisions will be made at the EU Heads of Government level and the ratification process. For Montenegro, accession would therefore be possible in 2028 or 2029, for Albania somewhat later," Kos said.
Von der Leyen at the investment conference in Luštica
EC President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Montenegro on October 14th and 15th to participate in the investment conference in Luštica.
She will open the conference with the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić.
During the conference, as announced by the Government, key investment opportunities in Montenegro, regulatory reform plans and initiatives to improve the investment environment will be presented, with a special focus on projects in line with the EU Green Deal, the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Montenegro's accession process to the single European market.
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