Montenegro closes Chapter 5 – Public Procurement at intergovernmental conference in Brussels

Montenegro closed Chapter 5 – Public Procurement - the first chapter from Cluster 1 (Fundamental Rights) - at the Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, thus making another important step on its path to the EU membership.

The Montenegrin delegation at the Intergovernmental Conference was led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. He thanked the Polish presidency, member states, and the European Commission for their support in closing the Chapter on public procurement.

We are closing the first chapter from the Cluster on Fundamental Rights in the history of EU enlargement under the new methodology. We are following the dynamics based on the export assessment of the European Commission. And by the end of the year, we will have many more reasons to celebrate, he stressed.

Closing Chapter 5, as he noted, is a significant step towards the common final goal - the completion of accession negotiations, recalling that this process, after seven years, was unlocked exactly one year ago, with receiving the IBAR.

"Six months ago, at the previous Intergovernmental Conference, I asked you to trust our motivation, determination and ability to deliver you the 28th EU member state by 2028. Continuity is essential in our marathon – we need to close the chapters at a pace that will allow us to meet our European ambitions," Prime Minister Spajić emphasised.

He said that the chapter Montenegro closed earlier today carries special importance because it directly reflects the quality of governance – through transparency, accountability and effective prevention of corruption. It also comes as a continuation of the acknowledgment received in Dublin last week for decisive actions and results in the field of combating illegal tobacco trade.

Montenegro is open for business and closed to crime and corruption, Prime Minister Spajić pointed out.

He said that the progress made within the public procurement chapter demonstrates the institutional maturity of Montenegro and its ability to apply European standards in areas necessary for the functioning of the rule of law and ensuring the integrity of public administration.

It also strengthens the overall credibility of our reform efforts, not only within the accession process but also in achieving European standards as a future EU member state, Prime Minister Spajić added.

Hert Jan Kopman, Director of the Directorate for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood of the European Commission, congratulated Prime Minister Spajić, the Government of Montenegro, and society as a whole.

I am glad that we are here after only six months to close another chapter that is the result of your seriousness, dedication and credible planning. What we are doing today is a testament to the EU expansion process based on merit. And this is a big signal to the entire region. Montenegro is fulfilling its obligations in accordance with the established plan. We are confident that there will be more intergovernmental conferences this year where we can celebrate together, said Kopman.

Speaking about the closing of Chapter 5, he emphasised that the electronic public procurement system has drastically reduced even the possibility and risk of corruption in this area.

Prime Minister Spajić also emphasised Montenegro's absolute commitment to the rule of law, strengthening citizens' standards, good neighbourly policy, and European integration.

With your support, by the end of this year, we should be ready to close five more chapters – with an additional likelihood that we will achieve internal readiness for two more. The negotiating structure and all departments are working diligently, in close cooperation with the Commission. We promise that we will earn your approval to close as many chapters this year as in the previous twelve. We will be sixfold successful, concluded the Prime Minister of Montenegro.

With the closing of Chapter 5, the number of temporarily closed negotiation chapters has increased to seven.