European Commission report on November 4

The European Commission's (EC) annual report on Montenegro for 2025 will be presented on November 4.

This was announced yesterday by the Deputy Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Montenegro. Ricardo Seri, guest at the conference "How to improve the safety of media workers" organized yesterday in Podgorica by the Media Union of Montenegro.

In its regular annual report, 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 year, 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.