Montenegro closed two additional chapters in its European Union accession negotiations as officials reiterated their goal of completing talks by the end of the year and joining the bloc in 2028.
Predrag Milic
Montenegro closed two more chapters in its European Union accession negotiations on Monday, moving nearer to its goal of completing membership talks by the end of the year, European and Montenegrin officials said.
The officials said that Montenegro closed Chapter 2, covering the free movement of workers, and Chapter 28, dealing with consumer and health protection.
“Over the last few weeks, Montenegro has truly demonstrated progress,” European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos told reporters in Luxembourg.
“By closing these two chapters, it has now closed almost half of all chapters – 16 out of 33 – and it is still moving forward at great speed,” she added.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said the country remains on track to complete the accession process.
“Montenegro is not falling behind and it is not improvising. We keep our word and deliver results. By the end of this year, we will close all chapters,” Spajic said.
Chapter 2 regulates the right of citizens of EU member states to work, reside and move freely within the bloc without discrimination based on nationality. Its closure confirms that Montenegro will be able to provide its citizens with broader employment opportunities across the bloc and enjoy the same rights as workers from other member states.
Closure of Chapter 28, which covers consumer protection, product safety and public health, indicates that Montenegro has adopted EU standards in areas including consumer rights, dispute-resolution mechanisms and compensation procedures, as well as disease prevention, health promotion and the safety of medical products and procedures.
Before Monday’s conference, Montenegro had closed 14 of the 33 negotiating chapters that form part of the EU accession process. With the closure of the two additional chapters, the country has now provisionally closed 16 chapters.
The government hopes to complete negotiations by the end of 2026 and secure EU membership in 2028, which would make Montenegro the bloc’s 28th member state.
