Montenegro has never been closer to the European Union (EU), said European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos this morning.
After the Intergovernmental Conference between Montenegro and the EU, at which Montenegro closed five more negotiation chapters, she said that Montenegro is a leader in the EU integration process and the candidate with the best results, which it has proven today - with a total of 12 closed chapters.
She stressed that Montenegro still has a lot of work to do, especially when it comes to strengthening the rule of law, which "starts by prioritizing appointments that ensure an independent judiciary, in which judges can make decisions freely and without political pressure."
"This also means continuing a strong fight against corruption and organized crime, so that no one is above the law and criminal networks cannot buy influence or capture public institutions. We need professional institutions that work fairly for every citizen, based on rules and merit, not personal connections or party loyalty. We also need progress in the area of the media environment in Montenegro, where key appointments are still expected," Kos stated.
She emphasized that free and independent media are the backbone of every democracy.
"Finally, we expect full alignment with the EU visa policy. This work is not easy, but it is the only way to build trust with member states and be ready for EU entry," Kos said.
She said that the coming year will be decisive and more than ever, Montenegro will need focused and dedicated leadership and national unity to reach its goal.
"Next year can be even better... We will support you every step of the way," Kos said.
She said that the EU is not a humanitarian organization and that this is not a Christmas present, "as heard today from a member state representative."
"From today's discussion at the IGC, we know that all Member States appreciate these results. Today we have many reasons to celebrate. Montenegro has never been closer to the European Union, but we have to be honest - the hardest part is still ahead of us. You yourself said that you want to complete the negotiations by the end of 2026 and the European Commission supports you in this, but to achieve this you will have to run fast," said Kos.
Montenegro today closed chapters 3 - Right of establishment and freedom to provide services, 4 - Free movement of capital, 6 - Commercial law, 11 - Agriculture and rural development, and chapter 13 - Fisheries.
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France opposed the closure of chapters 11 and 13 at the session of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States (COREPER II) on Friday, but after intensive diplomatic activities by representatives of Montenegro, that country gave the green light, and all five chapters were approved by COREPER II yesterday. According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", the French claimed at the sessions of COREPER and the EU Council Working Group (COELA) that two chapters were not ready for closure and that they were not sufficiently aligned with the EU acquis, without, however, stating specific reasons for their position. Including these five, Montenegro has so far closed a total of 12 chapters in negotiations with the EU. The government plans to close the remaining chapters (21) next year.
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Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said today that Montenegro has closed more than a third of the chapters today, which is a great success.
He said that Montenegro is very grateful to France, which has given it a somewhat more difficult task in recent days, but has shown how European partners can work together.
"You have given us a difficult task in recent days. But also an opportunity for Montenegro to once again show how serious it is in this process. Friends are often there to give us challenges that will confirm our true value," said Spajić.
He said that today, when many centers of power are trying to implement their unprecedented agendas, Europeans can have no greater ideal than a united Europe – a Europe of all its citizens, a Europe of all Europeans.
"That is why the enlargement policy must remain and be maintained as one of the strongest and most important pillars of the European Union. Today's closing of five chapters with Montenegro further instills confidence in this process. With Montenegro, the European Union gains a member that, in a relatively short time, has gone from being the poorest country, namely the republic of the former Yugoslavia, with development values and standards, to today standing shoulder to shoulder with some member states. A country that has been a member of NATO for eight years and contributes to stability and security," Spajić said.
He recalled that Montenegro has had a 100% harmonized common foreign and security policy with the European Union for more than a decade.
"It has the potential and logistics to contribute to the energy, defense and overall stability of Europe. It is economically stable and growing every year. The rule of law and democracy are not just goals we strive for, but the foundations on which our development rests. Montenegro will not be a burden on European Union taxpayers. Our future membership will cost every EU citizen only two euro cents," said Spajić.
He said that Montenegro is ready and is entering 2026 with a lot of energy and strength to close all chapters by the end of next year.
"If our goal is to build a secure and strong Europe, we Europeans must be united in our own home. And that home is the European Union. With the conviction that Montenegro's membership will bring hope and faith in the true values of this project," he said.
Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjere, on behalf of the EU presidency, said that this is a big step forward for Montenegro and the EU.
"Continued implementation of reforms will determine how quickly Montenegro can progress towards membership. As the Presidency, Denmark has been committed to ensuring that the enlargement process maintains credibility, momentum and clarity. We will continue to support Montenegro and all candidate countries in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria and progressing towards membership. Montenegro, you have shown resilience and commitment. You are showing that European integration is not just an end goal, but a reform-driven process that strengthens your institutions and economy along the way," said Bjere.
She added that she looks forward to continuing close cooperation and participating in another Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).
"We hope to close even more chapters next year," she said.
Answering journalists' questions about what happened over the weekend, Spajić said that what has been happening for the last two years has happened - hard work.
"It is obvious that in each chapter there are many technical issues on which we have to work very intensively, not only with the European Commission, which supported us, but also with each individual member state. All 27 member states must be in agreement and satisfied with Montenegro's work. I am very happy to say that, thanks to teamwork on our part - with sleepless Fridays and Saturdays - we succeeded. And I think that this work did not go unnoticed by either the European Commission or the member states. In the end, they supported us in all five chapters and I am extremely grateful for that. Thank you," he said.
When asked how many chapters she expects Montenegro to close in the first half of next year, Kos replied that it depends entirely on Montenegro.
"We are ready here in Brussels. The faster you progress, the more you will look forward to at the end of the year. I hope everything will be finished before the Christmas holidays," Kos said.
When it comes to the Council's conclusions and the pace of enlargement in the Council, the Danish minister said that they had several intergovernmental conferences this year.
"I was just told that 2025 is actually the year with the greatest progress in the area of enlargement in the last 15 years. This shows that we have candidate countries that are decisively delivering results, but also that enlargement has regained momentum within the Council among the member states, because it is now a geopolitical necessity in a changing world," said Bjere.
She added that she expects the Council's conclusions to be supported by 26 member states.
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