The EU–Montenegro Intergovernmental Conference was held today in Brussels, at which Negotiating Chapter 32 – Financial Control was closed. During the Conference, a significant number of EU Member States called for the establishment of a Working Group to draft the Accession Treaty with Montenegro.

On the occasion of the closure of Chapter 32, addressing representatives of the Member States, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić stated that a robust public internal financial control system, fully aligned with European standards, has been established, and that sound financial control has evolved from an aspiration to reality, which, as he underlined, is a clear indication of Montenegro’s capacity to protect both national and future EU financial interests.

Addressing participants of the Intergovernmental Conference, the Prime Minister stressed that by provisionally closing this chapter and continuing to monitor and strengthen financial control in the run up to full membership, Montenegro clearly manifests its political choice to anchor accession in reliability, integrity, accountability, and the rule of law. “During the past 13 years of negotiations, sound financial control has evolved from an aspiration to reality”, the Prime Minister said, adding that over the past years, Montenegro has established a robust public internal financial control system, fully aligned with European standards.

Beyond just formal alignment, this journey reflects a genuine cultural shift in how public funds are managed, protected, and accounted for, said PM Spajić. In this context, he highlighted the role of the State Audit Institution, which, as he noted, operates as a strong, independent, and credible guardian of public finances. “Its work is transparent, its findings are taken seriously, and parliamentary oversight is active and effective”, the Prime Minister said, stressing that this is also a clear indication of Montenegro’s ability to protect both national and future EU financial interests.

The Prime Minister recalled that Montenegro has established effective anti-fraud coordination mechanisms, ensured strong inter-institutional cooperation, and strengthened the system through safeguards, transparency, and control mechanisms designed to reduce risk, not transfer it.

In his address, the Prime Minister stated that the achieved progress is the result of political commitment at all levels, sustained institutional effort, and our whole society’s clear strategic choice for Europe.

The full address by the Prime Minister at today’s EU-Montenegro Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels is available here.