Accession of Montenegro to the European Union

Accession of Montenegro to the European Union is on the agenda for future enlargement of the EU.

Accession of Montenegro to the European Union
Status	Candidate negotiating (screening complete)
Earliest possible entry	2028
Application European perspective December 2002 Potential candidate December 2002 Membership application 15 December 2008 Candidate status 17 December 2010 Screening 29 June 2012 Screened & negotiations commence 27 June 2013
Negotiations Clusters open 6 Chapters open 33 Clusters closed 0 Chapters closed 3 9.1% complete
Memberships & Treaties Association Agreement 1 May 2010 Economic and monetary policy EU Free Trade Agreement part of the SAA World Trade Organization (WTO) Member since 29 April 2012 Euro & the Eurozone Euro has de facto been used since 1 January 2002 Main article: Montenegro and the euro Travel Schengen visa liberalisation 19 December 2009 Energy Energy Community 15 December 2006 Euratom There are no nuclear power plants or research reactors in Montenegro. ENTSO-E Crnogorski Elektroprenosni Sistem is a member Foreign and military policy North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 5 June 2017 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 10 September 2000 (as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) Human rights and international courts Council of Europe (CoE) Member since 11 May 2007 International Criminal Court (ICC) Member since 3 June 2006 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Entitled to appear since 28 June 2006; there are no cases
Impact (27+1) Population 446,828,803 447,461,961 0.14% Area 4,233,262 km2 1,634,472 mi2 4,237,074 km2 1,639,805 mi2 0.3% HDI 0.896 0.893 0.1% GDP (PPP) $25.399 trillion $25.416 trillion 0.07% GDP per capita (PPP) $56,928 $56,605 0.5% GDP $17.818 trillion $17.825 trillion 0.03% GDP per capita $39,940 $39,699 0.6% Gini 30.0 30.1 0.1% Official Languages 24 25 Montenegrin +1

After voting for independence from Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, Montenegro began the process of accession to the European Union by agreeing to a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, which officially came into force on 1 May 2010. Montenegro officially applied to join the EU on 15 December 2008. Membership negotiations began on 29 June 2012.^[1] As of 2024, Montenegro's goal is to achieve membership of the EU by 2028.^[2][3]

It is one of nine current EU candidate countries, together with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Among the six candidates with open negotiations (Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Moldova and Ukraine), the most advanced stage of the negotiations—defined as meeting the interim benchmarks for negotiation chapter 23 and 24 which allow the closing process of all negotiation chapters to start—has so far only been reached by Montenegro.^[4] As of September 2024, thirty out of 33 chapters remain to be closed.

History

Since Montenegro's potential candidate status was granted

Main article: Montenegro–European Union relations

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker with Montenegrin President Milo Đukanović in Brussels, Belgium on 5 June 2018

Identification

Montenegro was granted potential candidate status in December 2002, when it was still in a union with Serbia. The EU recognized the new and independent country's European Perspective on 21 June 2003 at the Thessaloniki Summit. The adoption of the Thessaloniki Declaration of 2003 was a promise by the EU that the former Yugoslav republics along with Albania have "unequivocal support for future integration and full membership of these states in the Union".^[5]

Recommendation

The European Commission recommended Montenegro as a candidate country on 9 November 2010. Montenegro officially was granted candidate status on 17 December 2010.^[6]

Candidacy

Membership application

Montenegro officially applied to join the EU on 15 December 2008.

Questionnaire

On 23 April 2009, the Council invited the European Commission to submit its opinion on the application. The Commission presented Montenegro with a questionnaire to assess its application on 22 July 2009.^[7] On 9 December 2009, Montenegro delivered its answers to the EC questionnaire.^[8] In 2010, the Commission issued a favourable opinion on Montenegro's application, identifying seven key priorities that would need to be addressed for negotiations to begin.

Treaties

Stabilisation and Association Agreement

The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro started the process of Accession to the European Union in November 2005, when negotiations over a Stabilisation and Association Agreement began. The EU concluded such agreements with states that wish to become members. In exchange for commitments to political, economic, trade, or human rights reform in the country, tariff-free access to some or all EU markets (industrial goods, agricultural products, etc.), and financial or technical assistance may be offered by the EU.

In May 2006, Montenegro voted for independence in a referendum, and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was dissolved. Serbia continued with the existing SAA negotiations, and separate negotiations were launched with Montenegro in September 2006.^[9][10][11]

The Agreement was initiated on 15 March 2007 and signed on 15 October 2007. After all the 27 member-states of EU had ratified the SAA, it came into force on 1 May 2010.^[12][13]

Status of SAA ratification

Event North Macedonia [14] Croatia [15] Albania [16] Montenegro [17][Note 1] Bosnia and Herzegovina [19] Serbia [20][Note 2] Kosovo [21][Note 3] SAA negotiations start 2000-04-05 2000-11-24 2003-01-31 2005-10-10 2005-11-25 2005-10-10 2013-10-28[23] SAA initialled 2000-11-24 2001-05-14 2006-02-28 2007-03-15 2007-12-04 2007-11-07 2014-07-25[24] SAA/IA signature 2001-04-09 2001-10-29 2006-06-12 2007-10-15 2008-06-16 2008-04-29 2015-10-27[25] Interim Agreement: EC ratification 2001-04-27 2002-01-30 2006-06-12 2007-10-15 2008-06-16 2009-12-08 N/A [Note 4] SAP state ratification 2001-04-27 2002-01-30 2006-10-09 2007-11-14 2008-06-20 2008-09-22 N/A [Note 4] entry into force 2001-06-01 2002-03-01 2006-12-01 2008-01-01 2008-07-01 2010-02-01 N/A [Note 4] Deposit of the instrument of ratification: SAP state 2001-04-27 2002-01-30 2006-11-09 2007-11-13 2009-02-26 2008-09-22 2016-02-26 Austria 2002-09-06 2002-03-15 2008-05-21 2008-07-04 2009-09-04 2011-01-13 N/A Belgium 2003-12-29 2003-12-17 2008-10-22 2010-03-29 2010-03-29 2012-03-20 N/A Bulgaria joined the EU later 2008-05-30 2009-03-13 2010-08-12 N/A Croatia joined the EU later N/A Cyprus joined the EU later 2008-05-30 2008-11-20 2009-07-02 2010-11-26 N/A Czech Republic joined the EU later 2008-05-07 2009-02-19 2009-07-23 2011-01-28 N/A Denmark 2002-04-10 2002-05-08 2008-04-24 2008-06-25 2009-05-26 2011-03-04 N/A Estonia joined the EU later 2007-10-17 2007-11-22 2008-09-11 2010-08-19 N/A Finland 2004-01-06 2004-01-06 2007-11-29 2009-03-18 2009-04-07 2011-10-21 N/A France 2003-06-04 2003-06-04 2009-02-12 2009-07-30 2011-02-10 2012-01-16 N/A Germany 2002-06-20 2002-10-18 2009-02-19 2009-11-16 2009-08-14 2012-02-24 N/A Greece 2003-08-27 2003-08-27 2009-02-26 2010-03-04 2010-09-20 2011-03-10 N/A Hungary joined the EU later 2007-04-23 2008-05-14 2008-10-22 2010-11-16 N/A Ireland 2002-05-06 2002-05-06 2007-06-11 2009-06-04 2009-06-04 2011-09-29 N/A Italy 2003-10-30 2004-10-06 2008-01-07 2009-10-13 2010-09-08 2011-01-06 N/A Latvia joined the EU later 2006-12-19 2008-10-17 2009-11-12 2011-05-30 N/A Lithuania joined the EU later 2007-05-17 2009-03-04 2009-05-04 2013-06-26 N/A Luxembourg 2003-07-28 2003-08-01 2007-07-04 2009-06-11 2010-12-22 2011-01-21 N/A Malta joined the EU later 2008-04-21 2008-12-11 2010-01-07 2010-07-06 N/A Netherlands 2002-09-09 2004-04-30 2007-12-10 2009-01-29 2009-09-30 2012-02-27 N/A Poland joined the EU later 2007-04-14 2009-02-06 2010-04-07 2012-01-13 N/A Portugal 2003-07-14 2003-07-14 2008-07-11 2008-09-23 2009-06-29 2011-03-04 N/A Romania joined the EU later 2009-01-15 2010-01-08 2012-05-22 N/A Slovakia joined the EU later 2007-07-20 2008-07-29 2009-03-17 2010-11-11 N/A Slovenia joined the EU later 2007-01-18 2008-02-07 2009-03-10 2010-12-07 N/A Spain 2002-10-04 2002-10-04 2007-05-03 2009-03-12 2010-06-15 2010-06-21 N/A Sweden 2002-06-25 2003-03-27 2007-03-21 2009-03-11 2009-09-14 2011-04-15 N/A United Kingdom 2002-12-17 2004-09-03 2007-10-16 2010-01-12 2010-04-20 2011-08-11 N/A European Communities or European Union and Euratom 2004-02-25 2004-12-21 2009-02-26 2010-03-29 2015-04-30 2013-07-22 2016-02-24 [Note 5] SAA entry into force 2004-04-01 2005-02-01 2009-04-01 2010-05-01 2015-06-01 2013-09-01 2016-04-01[29] EU membership (SAA lapsed) (TBD) 2013-07-01 (TBD) (TBD) (TBD) (TBD) (TBD) N/A: Not applicable. Montenegro started negotiations in November 2005 while a part of Serbia and Montenegro (SiM). Separate technical negotiations were conducted regarding issues of sub-state organizational competency. A mandate for direct negotiations with Montenegro was established in July 2006. Direct negotiations were initiated on 26 September 2006 and concluded on 1 December 2006.[18] Serbia started negotiations in November 2005 while part of SiM, with a modified mandate from July 2006. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but is still claimed by Serbia as part of its territory. The European Union remains divided, with five EU member states not recognizing its independence. The EU launched a Stabilisation Tracking Mechanism for Kosovo] on 6 November 2002 with the aim of aligning its policy with EU standards. On 10 October 2012 the European Commission found that there were no legal obstacles to Kosovo signing a SAA with the EU, as independence is not required for such an agreement.[22] No Interim Agreement associated with Kosovo's SAA was concluded.[26] Kosovo's SAA was the first signed after the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty, which conferred a legal personality to the EU. As a result, unlike previous SAAs Kosovo's is exclusively between it and the EU and Euratom, and the member states are not parties independently.[23][27][28]

EU programs and organisations

• Eastern Partnership: 22 January 2007
• Energy Community: joined 15 December 2006
• European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity:
• Southeast Europe Transport Community: since establishment in 2017

Public opinion

Montenegro's population is overwhelmingly pro-EU, with 76.2% being in favor according to polling and only 9.8% against, in October 2009.^[30]

As of May 2023, the support of the citizens of Montenegro for the country's membership in the European Union reached a record high of 79.3%, according to a survey commissioned by the EU Delegation to Montenegro. The survey reported 75.9% of citizens believe that Montenegro will become a member of the EU. Over 90% of citizens would vote in the referendum, and 81.1% of those voting would support Montenegro's membership in the EU.^[31]

Negotiations and conditions

Montenegro signed an agreement with the Bulgarian government in December 2007 in which Bulgaria would assist Montenegro with its Euro-Atlantic and EU integration for the following three years.^[32] Reports at that time indicated Montenegro had ecological, judicial, and crime-related problems that may hinder its accession bid.^[33]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro has a special agency dedicated to accession to the EU, the Office for Assistance to the Chief Negotiator. The office's goal is to support the task of the Chief Negotiator for Montenegro's Accession to the EU, Zorka Kordić. On 27 July 2010, the Parliament passed a non-discrimination law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited grounds of discrimination. This was one of the requirements the country had to meet for EU membership.^[34]

In December 2011, the Council agreed to launch the accession process, with negotiations beginning on 29 June 2012.

The 2015 European Commission Progress Report on Montenegro noted that the country had made good progress toward meeting the benchmarks to join the EU, but the nation needed to address institutional frameworks, including competition policy, fighting against corruption and organized crime, and work in the areas of the environment and climate change.^[35][36] A 2015 study of the readiness to join the EU by using data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey collected from enterprise owners and management indicated that Montenegro passed three out of six business dimensions: basic infrastructure, goods delivery, and secure legal secure environment, but was lower than four other candidate nations in resources, technology support, and regulations.^[36]

In its 2016 assessment of the accession progress, the European Parliament identified Montenegro as having the highest level of preparation for membership among the negotiating candidate nations.^[37]

From 2014 through 2020, Montenegro received €279.1 million of developmental aid (not including the allocation for Cross-border Cooperation) from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, a funding mechanism for EU candidate countries.^[38] The priority areas for these funds include: democracy and governance, rule of law and fundamental rights, environment and climate action, transport, competitiveness and innovation, education, employment and social policies, agriculture and rural development, regional and territorial cooperation.^[38]

With all the negotiating chapters opened as of 2021, Montenegro had widespread support among EU members' officials with possible accession to the EU considered by 2025.^[1]

There are thirty open chapters, three have been provisionally closed, and two are in which there is nothing to adopt.

Clusters of negotiating chapters^[39]

Clusters	Acquis Chapter
Overview	Overview	33 out of 33	6 out of 6	0 out of 6
Fundamentals	23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights	Opened	Opened	–
	24. Justice, Freedom & Security	Opened
	Economic criteria	–
	Functioning of democratic institutions	–
	Public administration reform	–
	5. Public Procurement	Opened
	18. Statistics	Opened
	32. Financial Control	Opened
Internal Market	1. Free Movement of Goods	Opened	Opened	–
	2. Freedom of Movement For Workers	Opened
	3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services	Opened
	4. Free Movement of Capital	Opened
	6. Company Law	Opened
	7. Intellectual Property Law	Opened
	8. Competition Policy	Opened
	9. Financial Services	Opened
	28. Consumer & Health Protection	Opened
Competitiveness and inclusive growth	10. Information Society & Media	Opened	Opened	–
	16. Taxation	Opened
	17. Economic & Monetary Policy	Opened
	19. Social Policy & Employment	Opened
	20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy	Opened
	25. Science & Research	Closed
	26. Education & Culture	Closed
	29. Customs Union	Opened
Green agenda and sustainable connectivity	14. Transport Policy	Opened	Opened	–
	15. Energy	Opened
	21. Trans-European Networks	Opened
	27. Environment	Opened
Resources, agriculture and cohesion	11. Agriculture & Rural Development	Opened	Opened	–
	12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy	Opened
	13. Fisheries	Opened
	22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments	Opened
	33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions	Opened
External relations	30. External Relations	Closed	Opened	–
	31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy	Opened
	34. Institutions	–	–	–
	35. Other Issues	–	–	–

Screening and Chapter Dates

Progression	33 / 33 100% complete	33 / 33 100% complete	33 / 33 100% complete	3 / 33 9.1% complete
Acquis chapter[40]	Screening Started	Screening Completed	Chapter Opened	Chapter Closed
1. Free Movement of Goods	2013-01-14	2013-03-06	2017-06-20	–
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers	2013-05-13	2013-06-07	2017-12-11[42]	–
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services	2012-10-23	2012-11-30	2017-12-11[42]	–
4. Free Movement of Capital	2013-01-18	2013-02-21	2014-06-24[43]	–
5. Public Procurement	2012-09-27	2012-11-19	2013-12-18	–
6. Company Law	2012-10-02	2012-11-22	2013-12-18	–
7. Intellectual Property Law	2012-10-11	2012-11-21	2014-03-31	–
8. Competition Policy	2012-10-03	2012-12-04	2020-06-30	–
9. Financial Services	2013-04-17	2013-06-11	2015-06-22[44]	–
10. Information Society & Media	2012-12-06	2013-01-22	2014-03-31	–
11. Agriculture & Rural Development	2012-11-06	2012-12-13	2016-12-13	–
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy	2012-10-15	2013-02-01	2016-06-30	–
13. Fisheries	2013-03-14	2013-06-06	2016-06-30	–
14. Transport Policy	2013-04-22	2013-05-30	2015-12-21	–
15. Energy	2013-02-27	2013-04-11	2015-12-21	–
16. Taxation	2013-04-08	2013-04-30	2015-03-30	–
17. Economic & Monetary Policy	2013-01-10	2013-02-26	2018-06-25	–
18. Statistics	2013-06-03	2013-06-25	2014-12-16[45]	–
19. Social Policy & Employment	2013-01-23	2013-03-13	2016-12-13	–
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy	2012-10-25	2012-11-28	2013-12-18	–
21. Trans-European Networks	2013-04-22	2013-05-30	2015-06-22[44]	–
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments	2012-11-14	2012-12-18	2017-06-20	–
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights	2012-03-26[46]	2012-05-31	2013-12-18	–
24. Justice, Freedom & Security	2012-03-28[46]	2012-05-25	2013-12-18	–
25. Science & Research	2012-09-24	2012-09-25	2012-12-18	2012-12-18[47]
26. Education & Culture	2012-09-26	2012-11-16	2013-04-15	2013-04-15[48]
27. Environment & Climate Change	2013-02-04	2013-03-22	2018-12-10[49]	–
28. Consumer & Health Protection	2013-02-19	2013-04-16	2014-12-16[45]	–
29. Customs Union	2013-05-23	2013-06-21	2014-12-16[45]	–
30. External Relations	2013-05-14	2013-06-12	2015-03-30	2017-06-20
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy	2013-05-17	2013-06-27	2014-06-24[43]	–
32. Financial Control	2013-05-16	2013-06-19	2014-06-24[43]	–
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions	2013-05-15	2013-06-26	2014-12-16[45]	–
34. Institutions	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
35. Other Issues	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Report History

Acquis chapter	October 2011[50]	October 2012[51]	October 2013[52]	October 2014[53]	November 2015[54]	November 2016[55]	April 2018[56]	May 2019[57]	October 2020[58]	October 2021[59]	October 2022[60]	November 2023[61]	October 2024[62]
1. Free Movement of Goods	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Considerable efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
4. Free Movement of Capital	Some level of preparation	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
5. Public Procurement	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†
6. Company Law	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation
7. Intellectual Property Law	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Well advanced‡
8. Competition Policy	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
9. Financial Services	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
10. Information Society & Media	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation
11. Agriculture & Rural Development	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
13. Fisheries	Further efforts needed	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
14. Transport Policy	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†
15. Energy	Moderately prepared	Early stage	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation
16. Taxation	Further efforts needed	Early stage	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
17. Economic & Monetary Policy	Considerable efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
18. Statistics	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
19. Social Policy & Employment	Early stage	Considerable efforts needed	Further efforts needed	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy	Considerable efforts needed	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation
21. Trans-European Networks	Further efforts needed	Early stage	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†	Good level of preparation†
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments	Early stage	Considerable efforts needed	Early stage	Early stage	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Further efforts needed	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
24. Justice, Freedom & Security	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Further efforts needed	Early stage	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation†
25. Science & Research	Moderately prepared	Further efforts needed	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation
26. Education & Culture	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation
27. Environment & Climate Change	Considerable efforts needed	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
28. Consumer & Health Protection	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	No major difficulties expected	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
29. Customs Union	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
30. External Relations	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	No major difficulties expected	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy	Further efforts needed	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	No major difficulties expected	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation
32. Financial Control	Some level of preparation	Early stage	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
34. Institutions	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt
35. Other Issues	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt
Legend: Chapters in bold indicate completed chapters. † indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "moderately prepared" AND "good level of preparation". ‡ indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "good level of preparation" AND "well advanced".   totally incompatible   early stage   considerable efforts needed   some level of preparation   further efforts needed   moderately prepared   no major difficulties expected   good level of preparation   well prepared / well advanced

Economy

Developmental Aid

Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance

IPA I
€236 M
(2007-2013)

IPA II
€271 M
(2014-2020)

IPA III
c. €300 M
(2021-2027)

Unilateral euro adoption

Main article: Montenegro and the euro

Montenegro has no currency of its own. As a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia following World War II, and later of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Montenegro used the Yugoslav dinar as its official currency. In November 1999, the government of Montenegro unilaterally designated the Deutsche Mark as its co-official currency with the dinar, and on 1 January 2001 the dinar officially ceased to be a legal tender in Montenegro.^[63][64] When the euro was introduced and the Deutsche Mark yielded in 2002, Montenegro followed suit and began using the euro as well, with no objection from the European Central Bank (ECB).^[65][66]

The European Commission and the ECB have since voiced their discontent over Montenegro's unilateral use of the euro on several occasions.^[67] A statement attached to their Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU read: "unilateral introduction of the euro was not compatible with the Treaty."^[68] The EU insists on the strict adherence to convergence criteria (such as spending at least 2 years in the ERMII system) which are not negotiable before euro adoption, but have not intervened to stop the unilateral adoption of the euro by Montenegro in 2002.^[67][69] The issue is expected to be resolved through the negotiations process.^[67] The ECB has stated that the implications of unilateral euro adoption "would be spelled out at the latest in the event of possible negotiations on EU accession."^[68]

Diplomats have suggested that it is unlikely Montenegro will be forced to withdraw the euro from circulation in their country.^[65][68] Radoje Žugić, Montenegro's Minister of Finance, has stated that "it would be extremely economically irrational to return to our currency and then later to again go back to the euro."^[70] Instead, he hopes that Montenegro will be permitted to keep the euro and has promised "the government of Montenegro, will adopt some certain elements, which should fulfil the conditions for further use of the euro; such as adopting fiscal rules."^[70]

Travel

Schengen Visa liberalisation process

On 1 January 2008, the visa facilitation and readmission agreements between Montenegro and the EU entered into force.^[71] Montenegro was added to the list of visa exempt nationals on 19 December 2009, allowing their citizens to enter the Schengen Area and Cyprus without a visa when traveling with biometric passports.^[72] The visa liberalisation process does not include travels to Ireland which, with the United Kingdom which left the EU during Montenegro's accession process, operate the Common Travel Area for visas outside of the Schengen Area.^[73]

From May 2025 citizens of Montenegro will be required to register on the EU's ETIAS before entering the Schengen area.^[74]

Montenegro's foreign relations with EU member states

Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark

Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland

Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland

Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden

See also

• Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union
• Accession of Kosovo to the European Union
• Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union
• Accession of Serbia to the European Union
• Montenegro–NATO relations
• Yugoslavia–European Communities relations

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