Spajić to EU Member State representatives: I hope you can see that Montenegro already acts as a near future Member State

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić addressed today in Brussels the Intergovernmental Conference on Accession of Montenegro to the European Union, which, as he emphasized, marks another decisive step forward on Montenegro’s European path.

By adding today’s 5 chapters to Chapter 5 already provisionally closed in June, we fulfill the commitment solemnly given to you last December – that the Government of Montenegro would double its efforts and finish 2025 by closing twice as many chapters, the Prime Minister stated.

He said that in this post-IBAR phase of negotiations, Montenegro has successfully sought to maintain a careful and responsible balance: “continuing to strengthen the rule of law as the foundation of the European project, while at the same time delivering tangible progress across other more technical chapters, following the plan agreed with the Commission.“

In an otherwise increasingly unpredictable world, we hope this achievement can embolden others not to shy away from tough reforms or exhausting democratic consensus and institution-building, the Prime Minister emphasized.  

Spajić referred to the European Commission’s latest annual Report, noting that the reforms we implemented have a direct positive impact on the lives of our citizens, substantially modernize our institutions, and reinforce the resilience of the society of Montenegro.

He expressed gratitude to the European Commission and EU Member States, whose political backing and valuable technical assistance “have revived the confidence in the enlargement policy – ours and that of other candidates.”

By now we hope you all can see that Montenegro already thinks and acts as a near future Member State – fully aligned with the EU’s CFSP, with which we have been 100% aligned since Day One of negotiations, strategically planning and responsibly reforming across sectoral policies, Prime Minister Spajić said.

Today, through the provisional closure of these negotiating chapters, we confirm that Montenegro’s European future is not a distant aspiration, but a process firmly underway – guided by accountability, driven by reform, and anchored in mutually reinforcing interests and overlapping visions of peace, growth and prosperity, the Prime Minister concluded.

In the continuation of his address, the Prime Minister referred to progress achieved in Chapters 3, 4, 6, 11 and 13: Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services, Free Movement of Capital, Company Law, Agriculture, and Fisheries.

He told participants of the Intergovernmental Conference that Montenegro is ready to respond to all questions, accept both support and criticism, and remain firmly anchored in shared values and rules.

We hope that this morning presents you with one more opportunity to convey such a message to your capitals – that Montenegro remains a reliable and responsive partner fully committed to its merit-based progression to European Union membership, he concluded.

Address by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić at the Intergovernmental Conference held today (16 December), full text