Sattler: In October and November it will be known whether Montenegro can close all chapters by the end of the year

The decision to approve the formation of a working group to draft a treaty on Montenegro's accession to the European Union (EU) is a major step for Montenegro, which, after 13 years, starts the clock for the next enlargement of that community.

This was stated by the Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Johan Sattler, in an interview with Euronews, saying that he hopes that Podgorica will manage to close four more negotiation chapters before the summer break, and then the rest in the second half of the year.

"In October and November, we will have a clearer picture of how realistic it is to close all chapters (by the end of the year)," he said.

We are publishing the transcript of Sattler's interview with Euronews Montenegro in full:

"Ms. Kos recently mentioned the formation of a commission to draft a new agreement regarding Montenegro's accession process to the European Union. Can you explain in more detail what new elements or clauses such an agreement could bring and what their significance would be?

First of all, let me address what you mentioned – really very good news from Brussels yesterday, namely the formation of a working group that will start work on the accession treaty. That is a really big step. Congratulations to all the citizens of this country, as well as to all the actors – whether they are in the government, the majority or the opposition, because there are many of them.

This is a big step. As has been said, this restarts the clock for the next enlargement, after 13 years, after Croatia, which was the last to join in 2013. This means that now, in parallel with the technical work on the chapters – and we still have a lot of work to do on this issue – we are starting this process.

We hope to be able to close four more chapters before the summer break, and then the rest in the second half of the year. The accession treaty itself is being prepared now. The last one we had was 12 years ago with Croatia.

In the meantime, certain changes have taken place, so this accession treaty will be somewhat different. We still do not know exactly what it will contain, but it will, of course, include Montenegro's rights and obligations, as well as exceptions, transitional clauses and safeguard mechanisms, as Commissioner Kos mentioned.

All of this will be discussed very intensively over the next six to eight months in Brussels.

How did you receive this news and what message does it send to you as the EU delegation?

This means that good work is recognized – I think that's the most important thing.

In that sense, this is a strong message for Montenegro, but also a very good message for the region. If you put in the effort, work hard, implement the technical part of the work, harmonize the legislation, and if there is political will – which is the second key element – ​​then you can move forward and move decisively towards the European Union.

I think that's the main message.

How would you assess Montenegro's progress in implementing and enforcing EU legislation? To what extent has the country successfully implemented its European agenda so far?

Two years ago, together with the Government, we set an ambitious plan to close all chapters by the end of 2026. I must say that two years later, we are almost at our goal.

We are practically in line with the deadlines set. Some chapters have been slightly delayed, partly because it was difficult to predict how things would play out in parliament. Some chapters are extremely demanding, such as Chapter 1 – free movement of goods – which involves 55 laws and regulations for that chapter alone.

It's a huge job, but overall, we're keeping pace. Of course, it's one thing to pass laws in parliament, and another to implement them in practice.

That is the second, very important step.

How realistic is Montenegro's ambition to meet the goals regarding the closure of all negotiation chapters within the scheduled deadline?

As I said, we plan to close four more chapters by the summer break. Each chapter brings its own challenges, and all 27 Member States must agree on each step.

It is therefore difficult to give precise forecasts, but we are currently on the right track. The most demanding chapters come at the end – Chapters 23 and 24, which relate to the rule of law, the fight against organised crime and corruption, as well as the chapter on environmental protection, which is extremely important, but also very complex.

In October and November, we will have a clearer picture of how realistic it is to close all chapters.

What concrete progress has been made in chapters 23 and 24, especially in the areas of rule of law and fundamental rights? Do these chapters remain the most challenging and why?

As I already mentioned, according to our methodology, to close any chapter, you must have a certain level in the area of ​​rule of law and justice – the so-called IBAR.

Montenegro crossed that threshold two years ago. It is a condition that every country must meet in order to progress in other chapters. If you are not sufficiently prepared in the area of ​​the rule of law, you cannot progress further.

Albania is currently at that stage and needs to overcome it in order to begin closing the chapter.

Since then, we have seen some positive developments, including appointments to the highest positions in the judiciary. Last week, the director of the

Anti-Corruption Agencies – a very important institution that has been long awaited.

However, we need to see concrete results in practice – that is, results that cover the entire judicial chain. In cases of high and medium corruption, as well as organized crime, we want to see not only the initial stages, but also final verdicts.

Member States will monitor this closely when deciding on the closure of Chapters 23 and 24.

Given that the Electoral Reform Committee completed its work without tangible progress, how serious a challenge does this pose to Montenegro's EU integration process?

As for the electoral reform – the first part was successfully completed last year, which is no small achievement. For the first time, a single date for local elections every four years was agreed, which was not easy to achieve.

The professionalization of electoral bodies has been agreed upon, as has a quota of 40% women in parliament. These are important steps, but the work is not done.

We are in communication with the parliament, both the majority and the opposition, regarding the second part of the reform. It is important to improve the rules on financing political parties, as well as clarify certain technical aspects, such as the second round of the presidential elections.

I call on the parliament to complete this work so that the reform can be fully completed.

You mentioned the opposition — the recent withdrawal of opposition representatives from parliamentary committees over the security law has raised concerns. How might this affect Montenegro's European path, and what steps are needed to overcome political divisions and secure a broader national consensus?

This is a very important issue. The European Union, and I personally, attach great importance to national cohesion when it comes to such a strategic issue as EU membership.

Part of the good results of the past two years are precisely the result of this unity – cooperation between the government and the opposition. Many laws were adopted with broad support in parliament.

That is why it is crucial to return to that approach. I call on both the government and the opposition, and especially the majority, to work on restoring that unity, because it is a prerequisite for completing the demanding work that lies ahead.

In your opinion, what are the key reform priorities that Montenegro should focus on in the next 12–18 months in order to maintain its leadership status in the EU accession process?

Chapters 23 and 24 are extremely important, but there is also the chapter on the environment, which poses a great challenge.

This is one of the largest and most expensive chapters, as it involves the construction of wastewater treatment plants, improvement of air and water quality, as well as the harmonization of a large number of regulations.

There are other demanding chapters, such as the free movement of goods, which require a lot of technical work.

Another important aspect is administrative capacity – strengthening the institutions that will implement adopted laws. For example, in the field of agriculture, it is necessary to establish agencies that will manage EU funds intended for farmers.

That is a key part of the work ahead.

In the context of current geopolitical challenges, how does Montenegro position itself as a reliable partner of the EU and what role can it play in strengthening regional stability?

We are very pleased that Montenegro has been fully, 100 percent, aligned with all our foreign policy decisions since the beginning of the accession negotiations, for 12-14 years. And that continues.

I am glad that Montenegro is also making its contribution, sending soldiers, although sometimes it is symbolic - two or three soldiers.

Also, Montenegro actively participates in international missions, including NATO and EU training missions in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. This is very important. Montenegro has proven to be a reliable partner, both in foreign policy and in the regional context, and we expect this to continue.

This year is particularly significant – Montenegro will host a number of important events. The EU-Western Balkans Summit will be held in Tivat in early June, and the Berlin Process Summit will be held in October.

In addition, it also marks 20 years since the restoration of independence.

All of this represents an opportunity for Montenegro to demonstrate its results and contribution to regional stability as a future member of the European Union."