Spajić: We remain committed to a stronger and more competitive Europe

Montenegro remains fully committed to contributing to the project of a stronger, more competitive and more prosperous Europe for all its citizens, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said at the Intergovernmental Conference with the European Union (EU) in Luxembourg, at which the country temporarily closed two negotiation chapters.

He pointed out that each closed chapter represents tangible proof that enlargement works when commitment, reforms and political will come together.

Spajić, in his address to representatives of EU member states, said that for Montenegro, the accession process was never just a technical procedure of legal harmonization, but a transformative national project and a generational dream.

"By closing these two chapters, Montenegro remains fully committed to contributing to the project of a stronger, more competitive and more prosperous Europe for all its citizens," said Spajić.

He, as announced by the Government, welcomed the temporary closure of Chapter 2 (Freedom of Movement of Workers) and Chapter 28 (Consumer and Health Protection).

"These two chapters are very different, but together they tell a powerful story about what European integration means for our citizens," said Spajić.

Speaking about Chapter 2, Spajić explained that this means the possibility for citizens to move, work and build their future across Europe, with equal treatment, protection from the social security system and access to healthcare.

He pointed out that Chapter 28 talks about protection and trust, explaining that a modern framework for consumer protection has been adopted, product safety standards have been improved, market surveillance mechanisms have been strengthened, and institutions responsible for protecting consumer rights have been strengthened.

Spajić assessed that these chapters reflect the essence of the European social and economic model: freedom, opportunity, security and protection.

"With today's closures, Montenegro has now provisionally closed three out of four chapters that unify the four fundamental freedoms of the EU. This also means today that we have provisionally closed seven out of ten chapters within Cluster 2 - Internal Market," said Spajić.

As he pointed out, closing the chapter is not the end of the reforms, but a confirmation that the reforms are yielding results.

"I am convinced that 2026 will be remembered as a turning point for European enlargement and the year in which the EU, after its last enlargement, finally reaffirmed the transformative power of its enlargement policy," concluded Spajić.