Montenegro Strengthens EU Membership Bid with High Progress Scores

Montenegro has made significant strides in its European Union membership bid, reflected in this year’s European Commission report. The country received an average score of 3.63, marking a substantial improvement from 2024 and an even greater leap compared to 2023. This progress solidifies Montenegro’s position as a leader among nations pursuing EU integration.

During a press conference in Brussels, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos emphasized the importance of Montenegro’s achievements. She stated, “Montenegro is the most advanced in the EU accession process and has made significant progress towards membership.” Kos highlighted that tangible results from necessary reforms over the years have positioned Montenegro as the most prepared country for EU entry.

In alignment with this assessment, Kaja Kalas, the head of European diplomacy, noted, “Montenegro is the most ready among all candidate countries for membership in the European Union. EU expansion in the coming years is a real option.”

The report also praised Montenegro’s performance, as six chapters received top marks, specifically a score of “significant progress.” These chapters include 31 (foreign, security, and defense policy), 9 (financial services), 32 (financial supervision), 3 (freedom of establishment and provision of services), 6 (economic law), and 7 (intellectual property law).

Record Readiness Levels

One notable aspect of this year’s report is that Montenegro received no “weak ratings” for the first time. In contrast, the previous year’s report assigned three “no progress” ratings concerning chapters 6, 8, and 21. The average readiness score, which evaluates the overall status of areas covered by specific chapters, increased to 3.45, representing the highest level of readiness Montenegro has achieved to date.

The European Commission noted enhanced readiness in the crucial chapters 23 and 24, indicating that these areas are closer to closure than in previous years.

Concerns Remain Despite Positive Assessment

Despite the overall encouraging evaluation, there are reasons for caution. Chapters 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice, freedom, and security) remain problematic, receiving lower scores compared to last year when Montenegro received a positive report on meeting temporary benchmarks (IBAR). Both chapters earned a score of three, with chapter 23 showing some improvement, while chapter 24 was marked as having limited progress.

Additionally, a lower score was recorded for chapter 10 (information society and media), which Montenegro temporarily closed at the intergovernmental conference in Brussels. These lower ratings in critical chapters serve as a clear warning, as they cannot be treated merely as technical issues but are fundamental to the overall accession process.

The European Commission has consistently indicated that Montenegro must fulfill a series of steps to advance in these key chapters, forming part of the action plan released by the Montenegrin government this year.

Addressing the judiciary is vital for progress. The appointment of judges and prosecutors based on merit was underscored in this year’s report concerning the obligations in chapters 23 and 24. Alarmingly, Montenegro has struggled for years to make significant advancements in areas critical to the rule of law.

The European Commission’s judiciary section provides concrete recommendations, including filling positions through transparent procedures. Alongside the Constitutional Court, the recommendations now extend to the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils.

Furthermore, the report highlights the need to improve the effective functioning of the judiciary by reducing backlog cases across all levels of the judicial system. Specific measures are suggested, particularly targeting the High Court in Podgorica, the Administrative Court of Montenegro, and the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, indicating that these results will be closely monitored before the next report.

Concrete recommendations also address the fight against corruption, stressing the necessity of improving the balance of investigations and convictions for high-level corruption. It specifies which laws require amendments to prevent undue delays in criminal proceedings. Additionally, the Commission emphasizes the importance of tracking the implementation of recommendations from the State Audit Institution’s reports, acknowledging challenges in monitoring the execution of the anti-corruption strategy.

Montenegro’s ongoing efforts and the challenges it faces are critical as it navigates the complexities of EU accession, showcasing a blend of progress and ongoing concerns that will shape its future relationship with the European Union.