Montenegro Awaits EU Approval to Close Five Negotiation Chapters

Montenegro is poised to close five negotiation chapters in its EU accession process, pending approval from various EU bodies. A mid-December intergovernmental conference is scheduled to discuss the potential closure of these chapters, but several green lights from Brussels are essential before any official decisions can be made.

Currently, only one of the five chapters, Chapter 4 on the free movement of capital, has a joint position between Montenegro and the EU. For the remaining chapters, Montenegro has submitted its positions, but the EU has yet to formulate a unified stance. According to the local news outlet Pobjeda, while more than 20 EU member states have already expressed support for closing Chapter 4, several others are still awaiting further clarifications or the completion of internal procedures. This does not indicate a blockage, but rather a process that is expected to continue before the intergovernmental conference.

Progress on Negotiation Chapters

As Montenegro seeks to close these chapters by the end of the year, the EU’s draft negotiating positions for the remaining four chapters have not yet been finalized. Initial discussions highlighted the necessity for alignment on specific aspects of the negotiations. Nevertheless, sources indicate that there has not been significant opposition in the talks.

The negotiation positions concerning the five chapters have been a focal point for both Montenegrin officials and EU representatives, with the aim to finalize these discussions by 2025. Thus far, the matter has been examined within the context of the EU’s enlargement working group. Despite some media reports suggesting that closing these chapters is nearly a formality, Montenegrin positions have yet to pass through the working group comprised of lower-ranking diplomats, and thus have not reached the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), where ambassadors convene.

Ongoing Discussions and Future Steps

The working group on enlargement, known as COELA, has conducted five discussions regarding Chapter 4. During these sessions, the EU’s joint position has been amended based on feedback from member states. Additionally, COELA has reviewed Montenegro’s negotiating positions for the other four chapters (3, 6, 11, and 13), which are crucial for Montenegro’s EU accession aspirations.

As the December conference approaches, the outcome of these negotiations remains uncertain, but the momentum appears to favor a resolution. The process highlights the complexity of EU expansion and the critical role that member state consensus plays in shaping the future of candidate countries like Montenegro.