The provisional closure of negotiating chapter 5 – Public Procurement yesterday marks a significant milestone in Montenegro’s EU accession talks. This is a crucial step towards our strategic ambition of full EU membership, stated Miloš Radonjić, Advisor to the President of Montenegro for European Affairs.

“As a Europhile and a longtime participant in the negotiations, I firmly believe that, despite various challenges, we can achieve membership as the 28th state by 2028. I am excited about this development, as it underscores our commitment to closing chapters and affirms our foreign policy priorities,” he remarked.

Radonjić expressed confidence that Montenegro possesses the human resources, institutional capacity, and willpower necessary to implement essential reforms more effectively and hasten the closure of remaining negotiation chapters.

As a frontrunner and a model for the region, Montenegro is capable of more than just closing one chapter every six months, Radonjić asserts.

“Given the considerable number of chapters still to be addressed and the limited timeframe, it is imperative that the parliamentary majority exhibit greater agility and a credible political commitment to the European agenda in the next 18 months,” he emphasized.

“The statistics are clear. While we have successfully closed seven chapters, 26 remain. We are entering the final stretch, and much work lies ahead, especially in an increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape,” he pointed out.

The presidential advisor noted that in such a context, enlargement policies serve as essential tools for bolstering the EU’s global standing, highlighting the strong support Montenegro has received from EU member states and the European Commission.

“In other words, the responsibility is now entirely on Montenegro, and our progress hinges on our dedication and effort.

“By the end of 2026, we can afford no mistakes or delays, and excuses of a political nature will no longer be acceptable,” Radonjić concluded.

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