Montenegro was recognised for completing two more parts of its European Union accession process on Monday, June 14th—closing Chapters 2 and 28—officials confirmed.
With a view to joining the EU in 2028, the Balkan state has now met Brussels standards on the free movement of workers (Ch.2), and those covering consumer and health protection (Ch. 28). An upbeat Podgorica welcomed its new standing, with an optimistic statement from Prime Minister Milojko Spajić:
Montenegro is not falling behind and it is not improvising. We keep our word and deliver results. By the end of this year, we will close all chapters.
Spajić was backed by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who told Luxembourg-based reporters “Over the last few weeks, Montenegro has truly demonstrated progress.”
Whether Montenegrins would welcome—on becoming the bloc’s 28th member state—a potential influx of jobseekers under EU free movement rules remains to be seen. But Brussels observers are already uneasy with an accession system where some countries such as Montenegro have to put in the hard yards towards EU membership, whereas others—such as Ukraine—are being fast-tracked.
