Montenegro achieves key progress on its European path: Closure of negotiation chapters after seven years

At the upcoming Third Intergovernmental Conference this year, Montenegro is expected to close three negotiation chapters out of the four for which it has fulfilled all final benchmarks.

This milestone comes in a year that has proven to be the most productive for Montenegro's European integration process - within just one year, Montenegro has closed as many chapters as it had since the beginning of its accession negotiations.

Montenegro will enter 2025 as the first candidate country to achieve two critical goals: receiving a positive Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) and membership in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). These achievements, combined with the approval of over €380 million from the EU Growth Plan, further solidify Montenegro's position as a leader in the European integration process in the Western Balkans.

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović expressed gratitude to all EU member states for their continuous support and to the European Commission for exceptional cooperation throughout the negotiation process. Special recognition was extended to friendly Hungary, whose dedication to Montenegro and the broader EU enlargement process played a pivotal role in achieving this success.

The Government of Montenegro remains committed to continuing its reform processes in line with European standards, ensuring further progress in negotiations and the achievement of its strategic goal - membership in the European Union.