CCE: In negotiations with the EU, the key challenges are essential reforms and their consistent implementation

Montenegro's negotiations for membership in the European Union (EU) are more dynamic than before, but the key challenges remain essential reforms and their consistent implementation, according to the Center for Civic Education (CCE).

The non-governmental organization (NGO) recalled that Montenegro began its European path almost two decades ago and that it was long considered the most serious candidate country for future EU membership.

"The negotiations themselves, preceded by various stages of assessing the state's readiness, were opened in 2012, with rapid initial progress," the statement said.

It is recalled that one chapter was temporarily closed in 2012, and by the end of 2015, almost half of the chapters had been opened and another one had been temporarily closed.

"However, in the following years the pace slowed down, so it took almost eight years to open all chapters, and to date 14 chapters have been temporarily closed," the CCE statement said.

They stated that by 2017, three chapters had been temporarily closed, and the changed geopolitical context, which had put enlargement back high on the EU agenda, had led to the process being re-intensified and some previously, to a solid extent, chapters being updated.

It is stated that during 2024, three chapters were temporarily closed, six in the past, and two this year.

The same geopolitical developments, it is added, were also reflected in the dynamics of Albania's European integration, which gave Montenegro competition.

"Unlike Montenegro, which took almost eight years to open all chapters, Albania completed the same work in less than three years, from 2022 to 2025, with a record speed for opening clusters, according to which negotiation chapters are now grouped," said the CCE.

According to them, such dynamics indicate strong political will, but at the same time it raises the question of the quality and sustainability of reforms.

"Although Montenegro still has a significant advantage - with 14 provisionally closed chapters compared to Albania, which has not yet closed any - the accelerated progress of Albania is increasingly being highlighted, which in some statements by European officials is positioning itself as the new 'front-runner', a term previously associated primarily with Montenegro, and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has characterized Albania's progress as 'unprecedented'," the statement says.

As it is added, this is also contributed by the perception of Albania's stronger economic ties with the EU in certain segments, but also by the existence of a broader political consensus on European integration issues, as well as the absence of expressed suspicions about the malignant influence of countries with which the EU does not have developed cooperation.

An additional element of uncertainty, as stated by the CCE, is the possibility of Iceland's return to the negotiation process.

It is stated that Iceland began negotiations in July 2010, recording extremely rapid progress - in less than two years it managed to open 27 and provisionally close 11 negotiation chapters.

"However, after the change of government in 2013, the new Icelandic government decided to freeze negotiations, and in 2015, a formal request was made to withdraw the candidacy," the statement said.

It is added that the application is still formally valid, and the referendum announced for August 29th could pave the way for continued negotiations.

CCE pointed out that Iceland, through its participation in the European Economic Area, the Schengen Area and the European Free Trade Association, is already deeply integrated into the European market and implements a significant part of the EU acquis.

"It also participates in numerous Union programs and agencies, which further indicates a high degree of institutional and regulatory compliance," the statement added.

All of this, as stated, supports the assessment that Iceland, with additional efforts to reach an agreement in the area of ​​fisheries, which, as it is added, was a stumbling block earlier, could conclude accession negotiations relatively quickly.

In such a scenario, Montenegro's position, as CCE said, as the next member could be called into question, and several possible outcomes are open.

"A more favorable scenario implies the parallel accession of several smaller countries, while a less favorable one could result in Iceland becoming the next member before Montenegro," the CCE stated.

The NGO emphasizes that this period of time represents a significant opportunity that Montenegro must not miss, but that the acceleration of the process must be accompanied by real progress in the area of ​​the rule of law, strengthening institutions and consistent application of laws, as well as greater inclusiveness and transparency, which is currently lacking.

"Therefore, CCE calls on the ruling majority to intensify reforms without delay and show the necessary political responsibility, so that Montenegro can maintain its leadership position and successfully conclude negotiations with the EU," the statement says.