According to unofficial information obtained by “Vijesti”, the intergovernmental conference aimed at closing Chapter 5 (public procurement) between Montenegro and the EU is likely to take place on June 27.

An EU official based in Brussels stated that the next Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) with Montenegro cannot be confirmed just yet, as the European Union has not finalized its common stance on Chapter 5.

“Nonetheless, it is anticipated that a decision will be made in the coming days and weeks at the COREPER level, making June 27 the most probable date for this event,” the official mentioned.

The European Commission has prepared a Draft Common Position for Chapter 5, outlining substantial progress Montenegro has made in relation to public procurement, including the adoption of legislation in line with EU standards and the enhancement of administrative capabilities.

This draft common position has been reviewed by the EU Council Working Party on Enlargement and Accession Countries (COELA) before being assessed by the Permanent Representatives Committee of Member States (COREPER II), before it advances to the “ministerial level”.

The Ministry of European Affairs informed “Vijesti” that they are in the process of organizing the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference and expect the date to be finalized soon in collaboration with the Polish Presidency and EU institutions.

When queried about whether the Government would fulfill its obligations regarding visa policy, specifically to impose visas for one nation by the time of the Intergovernmental Conference, the Ministry responded that the “issue of visa policy is not directly linked to the Intergovernmental Conference nor does it hinder the closing of the chapter.”

The European Commission recently highlighted in a non-paper concerning chapters 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice, freedom, security) that more rigorous efforts and political commitment are needed from Podgorica to satisfy all final benchmarks, particularly in judiciary, combating corruption and organized crime, visa policy, media freedom, and fundamental rights.

“Montenegro must align its visa policy completely with that of the EU. Decisions made in December and February have led to a regression in meeting final benchmarks and have diminished its credibility regarding these obligations. Montenegro needs to provide concrete evidence of its commitment to align with the list of countries requiring EU visas,” states the informal document accessed by “Vijesti”.

Furthermore, the Draft Common Position for Chapter 5 indicates that Montenegro has made progress in enhancing its frameworks for combating corruption, conflicts of interest, and fraud associated with public procurement; however, additional measures are required.

The agreement signed on March 28, 2025, between Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates regarding cooperation in tourism and real estate development specifies that all contracts and agreements with UAE investors are exempt from public procurement regulations in both nations.

“It is critical for Montenegro to ensure that the implementation of this Agreement aligns with the EU’s public procurement legislation. The interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement must be managed cautiously. The EU expresses its readiness to support Montenegro in this regard,” notes the document.

The EU further urges Montenegro to enhance the database for transparent sharing of information regarding concessions and public-private partnership contracts, as well as defense and security procurement contracts.

Montenegro commenced EU negotiations on June 29, 2012, having opened all 33 negotiation chapters and closed six to date.

During the last Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels on December 16, Montenegro temporarily closed three negotiation chapters: Chapter 7 (intellectual property), Chapter 10 (information society and media), and Chapter 20 (entrepreneurship and industrial policy).

The closure of Chapter 31 (foreign, security, and defense policy) faced blocks from Croatia, stemming from deteriorating relations between the two nations. The government hoped that Croatia would permit the closure of Chapter 31 in June provided there was an agreement on compensation for Croatian citizens detained in the former Morinje camp, and changes to the name of the city swimming pool in Kotor, along with the process of transferring the Tivat “Josip Marković” Cultural Centre to Zagreb.

News