Accession of Montenegro to the European Union

Accession of Montenegro to the European Union
StatusCandidate negotiating (screening complete)
Earliest possible entry2028
Application
European perspectiveDecember 2002
Potential candidateDecember 2002
Membership application15 December 2008
Candidate status17 December 2010
Screening29 June 2012
Screened & negotiations commence27 June 2013
Clusters open6
Chapters open33
Clusters closed0
Chapters closed3
Memberships & Treaties
Association Agreement
1 May 2010
Economic and monetary policy
EU Free Trade Agreementpart of the SAA
World Trade Organization (WTO)Member since 29 April 2012
Euro & the EurozoneEuro has de facto been used since 1 January 2002
Main article: Montenegro and the euro
Travel
Schengen visa liberalisation19 December 2009
Energy
Energy Community15 December 2006
EuratomThere are no nuclear power plants or research reactors in Montenegro.
ENTSO-ECrnogorski 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)
Population446,828,803447,461,961
Increase 0.14%
Area4,233,262 km2
1,634,472 mi2		4,237,074 km2
1,639,805 mi2
Increase 0.3%
HDI0.8960.893
Decrease 0.1%
GDP (PPP)$25.399 trillion$25.416 trillion
Increase 0.07%
GDP per capita (PPP)$56,928$56,605
Decrease 0.5%
GDP$17.818 trillion$17.825 trillion
Increase 0.03%
GDP per capita$39,940$39,699
Decrease 0.6%
Gini30.030.1
Negative increase 0.1%
Official Languages2425
Montenegrin Increase +1
Politics of Montenegro
Constitution
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Political parties
Recent elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

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

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.

  1. ^ 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]
  2. ^ Serbia started negotiations in November 2005 while part of SiM, with a modified mandate from July 2006.
  3. ^ 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]
  4. ^ a b c No Interim Agreement associated with Kosovo's SAA was concluded.[26]
  5. ^ 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

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 33 / 33 33 / 33 3 / 33
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

See also

References

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