Montenegro took a significant step closer to full EU membership by closing two more chapters in its accession negotiations. It was announced on Monday that chapters 2 and 28 have been closed.
Chapter 2 covers the right of citizens of EU member states to work, live, and move freely within the union without discrimination. This milestone is seen as a key step enabling Montenegro’s citizens to access broader employment opportunities across the EU.
Chapter 28 addresses consumer protection, product safety, and public health. Closing this chapter means Montenegro has adopted EU standards in areas such as consumer rights, dispute resolution mechanisms, compensation procedures, disease prevention, health promotion, and the safety of medical products and procedures.
EU Commissioner Marta Kos noted Montenegro’s notable progress in recent weeks. She stated that the country has provisionally closed 16 of the 33 negotiation chapters and that the process is advancing rapidly.
Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajić emphasized that the country is not lagging behind or improvising in its membership process. He affirmed that the government is fulfilling its commitments and expects to close all chapters by the end of the year.
Before Monday’s meeting, Montenegro had closed 14 of the 33 chapters. With the addition of the last two, the total rose to 16, formalizing the progress made.
The government aims to complete negotiations by the end of 2026 and secure EU membership by 2028. If this scenario unfolds, Montenegro will become the 28th member of the union.
