Over the past two days, I had a friendly and constructive exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron, after which Montenegro will close all five chapters at the next intergovernmental conference, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović announced today.
"I look forward to meeting you, dear friend, in Brussels at the EU-Western Balkans Summit next week, and then in Montenegro next year," Milatović wrote on the social network X.
"Vijesti" announced yesterday that the chances of Montenegro closing all five planned chapters on Tuesday have increased significantly after intensive diplomatic activities between representatives of European Union (EU) member states that are advocating for Montenegro's speedy accession, Podgorica on the one hand, and Paris on the other.
The French side has indicated to Podgorica that it will give the green light to two chapters that it blocked yesterday at the sessions of the EU Council bodies - the Council Working Group (COELA) and the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States (COREPER II). These are chapters 11 (Agriculture and Rural Development) and 13 (Fisheries).
Milatović wrote to Macron the day before yesterday, seeking political support for closing all five chapters, "Vijesti" has learned.
According to unofficial information from the editorial office, Milatović did this at the initiative of the Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorčević, that is, after she informed him that Paris had decided to block the closure of two chapters.
At the same time, representatives of the Government, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, held diplomatic activities with representatives of member states.
According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", Spajić was in communication with Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
On Friday, without prior announcements or hints, France stopped Podgorica from closing two chapters in negotiations with Brussels.
According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", the French claimed at the sessions of these bodies that two chapters were not ready for "ticking" and that they were not sufficiently harmonized with the EU acquis, without, however, stating specific reasons for their position.
France's decision can be changed at the ministerial level (ministers of foreign affairs or European affairs within the EU General Affairs Council), where the final decision on (not) closing the chapter will be made on December 16th.
Three chapters received the green light last night in Brussels - 3 (Right of establishment and freedom to provide services), 4 (Free movement of capital) and 6 (Commercial law).
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