The government is intensifying its efforts to meet the initial 14 obligations from the Reform Agenda by the end of February, aiming to secure the first payment from the Western Balkans Growth Plan, according to the Ministry of European Affairs (MEP).

They emphasize that there should be no halting of payments. Instead, the state will receive funding proportional to the obligations it fulfills.

“The deadline is February 28th, so our administration is making vigorous efforts to complete all necessary activities and satisfy the first 14 obligations from the Reform Agenda. Following this, there will be a reporting period during which we will inform the European Commission about the number of proposed reforms we have successfully completed. Based on that, an assessment will be made regarding how much financial assistance Montenegro will receive in the first tranche,” MEP officials shared with “Vijesti,” addressing inquiries about Montenegro’s progress with the Reform Agenda obligations, which are due by February 28th, along with details on what remains unfulfilled and whether this might impact the release of the first tranche from the Growth Plan, estimated at around 29 million euros.

The European Commission adopted Montenegro’s Reform Agenda at the end of October last year, with the realization of these obligations being a prerequisite for accessing funds from the Reform and Growth Instrument under the Western Balkans Growth Plan. This comprehensive Growth Plan includes grants and soft loans totaling six billion euros allocated for the period from 2024 to 2027, with Montenegro set to receive 383.5 million euros, which breaks down to 110 million euros in grants and 273.5 million euros in soft loans.

Before any funds can be released, the Agreement on Accession to the Instrument and the Loan, which Parliament forwarded last Friday, needs to be ratified.

“It is crucial to underline that there can be no blocking of payments, but only the funds corresponding to our fulfilled obligations will be disbursed. Nevertheless, Montenegro will not forfeit the planned funds; rather, the money linked to a specific obligation will only become accessible following its implementation,” stated MEP.

They also noted that the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans aims to provide a total of eight tranches by the conclusion of 2027, amounting to around 384 million euros.

“Funding will be distributed in seven regular semi-annual tranches, with each tranche contingent upon the successful adoption of the planned reforms. The eighth tranche, designated for pre-financing at 7% of the overall allocated funds, will be disbursed prior to all other tranches and is not dependent on reform completion. This pre-financing reaches 26.85 million euros, which will partly fund three priority projects in the energy sector, while the remainder will serve as budget support,” explained the MEP.

Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorcevic reported in Parliament on Friday regarding the obligations met so far. She noted that Montenegro has appointed a president of the Supreme Court, established standard operating procedures for the prosecution related to sexual and gender-based violence—aligned with the Istanbul Convention and the EU Directive on Victim Protection. Furthermore, the register of state-owned enterprises is now publicly accessible and will be routinely updated, significantly enhancing transparency in the management of these enterprises. Additionally, the legal and infrastructural framework regarding cybersecurity has seen improvements through the adoption of the National Broadband Infrastructure Plan and the Law on Information Security, which complies with the NIS2 Directive.

Satler: Visas are a security issue

One outstanding obligation is the implementation of a visa requirement for one of the countries currently enjoying a visa-free status.

This point was reiterated by the European Union Ambassador to Montenegro, Johan Sattler, during an interview with TV Vijesti last night, highlighting that nations aspiring for EU membership are expected to align with the EU on foreign policy matters.

“In discussions about Russia and Ukraine, as well as positions concerning the Middle East, we expect our closest partners—those aiming for EU accession—to stand with us. This principle is referred to as foreign policy alignment, and it is currently occurring. Montenegro is fully aligned, which is commendable. We also anticipate our partners to support us on security issues. The visa matter fundamentally relates to security,” he emphasized.

The European Commission previously informed Vijesti in the fall that the EU expects Montenegro to introduce visa requirements for citizens of 11 countries, including Russia and Belarus. Interestingly, Montenegro has broadened this list rather than reduced it.

Sattler provided examples where citizens from countries on the EU’s visa list—yet not on the visa list of Western Balkan countries—have sought asylum or engaged in other activities within the European Union.

“This is a situation we must prevent. Therefore, we urge all countries aspiring for EU membership to gradually align with us. This doesn’t imply immediate action, but it does mean there should be a reduction over the coming years. We have agreed with Montenegro that every year, within the context of the Reform Agenda, one country will be removed from the visa-free list. We expect Montenegro to adhere to this plan,” he said.

He added that they anticipate one country will be removed from the visa-free list by the end of February, stressing the consideration of tourism in this decision.

“Thus, we aren’t insisting on immediately placing all citizens of nations such as Russia, China, Turkey, and others on the visa list. There are countries on that list whose removal would have minimal economic effects, as only a handful of their citizens travel here,” Sattler explained.

When questioned about when Montenegro might expect the first tranche from the Growth Plan, Sattler responded that the last two months have been lost due to the Loan Agreement for the Growth Plan being scheduled for parliamentary review back in December.

“Furthermore, you faced budget challenges,” Sattler recalled.

The budget was only passed this month because the opposition obstructed the session in protest against the dismissal of Dragana Đuranović, a judge of the Constitutional Court, for qualifying for retirement under the Pension and Disability Insurance Law.

Sattler indicated that once the ratification process concludes, Montenegro could expect the funds for the first phase of pre-financing to be in its account within a few weeks.

“That sums to around 20 million euros. The second, or subsequent, tranche will depend on the fulfillment of specific criteria. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with Montenegro. I detect positive progress, which is encouraging. Consequently, there are 14 criteria to fulfill by mid-March, one of which is the visa issue, but there are numerous others,” he stated.

If, as he added, all 14 criteria are successfully met, a subsequent tranche of 30 million euros will be disbursed.

“This is a very positive development. I am pleased to see Montenegro making strides in this process and leading among all six countries. We are optimistic for a favorable report to Brussels by mid-March,” Sattler concluded.

Sattler: Government and opposition must consult the Venice Commission

Sattler urged both the government and opposition to convene next week to address the Constitutional Court crisis by consulting the Venice Commission, facilitating the opposition’s return to Parliament by the start of next month.

He recalled that this was a recommendation from Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.

“The offer remains on the table. During emotionally charged times—as we have observed over the past two months—having an external party is often beneficial. The Venice Commission is the gold standard for constitutional matters and legality in democratic decision-making. Thus, I believe this proposition is valuable. However, the ultimate decision rests with you; it might also be rectified domestically. I urge you to meet at the negotiating table next week, seek a resolution, and continue with the essential work ahead,” Sattler stated.

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