Montenegro’s advancing accession process is exposing the gap between technical progress by candidate countries and the political uncertainty surrounding final EU membership. Podgorica aims to close all remaining negotiating chapters by the end of 2026 and sign an Accession Treaty in 2027, but ratification will ultimately depend on political support across all Member States. Elections expected in France, Poland, Italy, Spain and Greece during 2027 could therefore affect Montenegro’s accession regardless of its reform record, particularly as domestic opposition often targets enlargement generally rather than Montenegro specifically. With 18 of 33 chapters provisionally closed, nine remaining chapters submitted to the Commission and six more expected to be ready shortly, the most demanding work concerns Chapters 23 and 24 on the judiciary, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security. The case could become an important test of the EU’s ability to reward demonstrated progress and deliver a credible enlargement success story. At the same time, Montenegro has signalled openness to new post-accession safeguards, provided these do not create a second tier of membership with reduced rights for new entrants. Read more here.
Source: The New Union Post
