Montenegro Moves Step by Step Toward the European Union
Following its independence in 2006, Montenegro swiftly activated its EU membership process and is now approaching the final stage. Official projections foresee the country completing its full membership process by 2028. Montenegro has already opened all 33 negotiation chapters and provisionally closed seven. According to Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorcevic, the government aims to close at least five more chapters by the end of this year.
Key Milestones in Montenegro’s EU Accession Process
June 2025
Chapter 5 – Public Procurement provisionally closed.
December 2024
17th Accession Conference – Chapters 7, 10, and 20 provisionally closed.
26 June 2024
The EU confirmed that Montenegro had largely met interim benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24.
June & December 2021
Political intergovernmental conferences held under the revised enlargement methodology, providing stronger political guidance to the accession process.
October 2020
The European Commission adopted the Economic and Investment Plan to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU.
30 June 2020
Negotiations opened for Chapter 8 – Competition Policy.
June 2020
All 33 chapters that underwent the screening process were opened for negotiations, three of which were provisionally closed.
February 2020
The European Commission adopted the revised enlargement methodology to make the process more credible, predictable, and dynamic.
10 December 2018
Negotiations opened for Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change.
25 June 2018
Negotiations opened for Chapter 17 – Economic and Monetary Policy.
February 2018
The European Commission adopted the strategy “A Credible Enlargement Perspective for and Enhanced EU Engagement with the Western Balkans.”
11 December 2017
Negotiations opened for Chapter 2 – Free Movement of Workers and Chapter 3 – Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services.
20 June 2017
Negotiations opened for Chapter 1 – Free Movement of Goods and Chapter 22 – Regional Policy; Chapter 30 provisionally closed.
13 December 2016
Negotiations opened for Chapter 11 – Agriculture and Rural Development and Chapter 19 – Social Policy and Employment.
30 June 2016
Negotiations opened for Chapter 12 – Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy and Chapter 13 – Fisheries.
21 December 2015
Negotiations opened for Chapter 14 – Transport Policy and Chapter 15 – Energy.
22 June 2015
Negotiations opened for Chapter 9 – Financial Services and Chapter 21 – Trans-European Networks.
30 March 2015
Negotiations opened for Chapter 16 – Taxation and Chapter 30 – External Relations.
16 December 2014
Negotiations opened for Chapters 18 (Statistics), 28 (Consumer and Health Protection), 29 (Customs Union), and 33 (Financial and Budgetary Provisions).
24 June 2014
Negotiations opened for Chapters 4 (Free Movement of Capital), 31 (Foreign, Security and Defence Policy), and 32 (Financial Control).
31 March 2014
Negotiations opened for Chapters 7 (Intellectual Property Rights) and 10 (Information Society and Media).
18 December 2013
Negotiations opened for Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security), as well as Chapters 5 (Public Procurement), 6 (Company Law), and 20 (Enterprise and Industrial Policy).
18 December 2012
Accession Conference – The first chapter (Science and Research) provisionally closed.
29 June 2012
Formal launch of accession negotiations between Montenegro and the European Union.
26 June 2012
The European Council endorsed the Commission’s assessment that Montenegro met the membership criteria and approved the opening of negotiations.
9 December 2011
The European Council initiated the accession process with Montenegro, setting June 2012 as the target date for opening negotiations.
17 December 2010
The European Council granted Montenegro candidate country status.
1 May 2010
The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) entered into force.
19 December 2009
Montenegrin citizens granted visa-free travel to the EU.
15 December 2008
Montenegro formally applied for EU membership.
1 January 2008
Trade-related matters, visa facilitation, and readmission agreements entered into force.
15 October 2007
The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) signed in Luxembourg.
22 January 2007
The European Council adopted the European Partnership Document for Montenegro.
3 June 2006
The Parliament of Montenegro declared independence following a referendum held on 21 May, in which 55.5% of voters supported independence.
