Montenegro has successfully closed Chapter 5 – Public Procurement, the inaugural chapter from Cluster 1 (Fundamental Rights), during the Intergovernmental Conference held in Brussels, marking another significant milestone in its journey toward EU membership.

The Montenegrin delegation at the conference was headed by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, who expressed gratitude to the Polish presidency, member states, and the European Commission for their assistance in finalizing the Chapter on public procurement.

We are closing the first chapter from the Cluster on Fundamental Rights in the context of EU enlargement under the new methodology. Our progress is aligned with the European Commission’s export assessment. By year’s end, we will have ample reasons to celebrate, he emphasized.

The closure of Chapter 5, as he pointed out, represents a critical advancement towards the ultimate goal of finishing accession negotiations, recalling that this process, after seven years, was revitalized precisely one year ago with the receiving of the IBAR.

“Six months ago, during the previous Intergovernmental Conference, I asked you to believe in our motivation, determination, and capability to bring you the 28th EU member state by 2028. Continuity is vital in our long journey – we must close the chapters at a pace that will enable us to realize our European aspirations,” Prime Minister Spajić stressed.

He mentioned that the chapter Montenegro closed today holds particular significance as it directly mirrors the quality of governance – through transparency, accountability, and effective corruption prevention. This closure also follows the acknowledgment received in Dublin last week for decisive actions in combating illegal tobacco trade.

Montenegro is open for business and closed to crime and corruption, Prime Minister Spajić affirmed.

He added that the advancements made within the public procurement chapter showcase Montenegro’s institutional maturity and its capacity to implement European standards essential for upholding the rule of law and ensuring public administration integrity.

This progress enhances the overall credibility of our reform initiatives, not only within the accession process but also in meeting European standards as a prospective EU member state, Prime Minister Spajić concluded.

Hert Jan Kopman, Director of the Directorate for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood of the European Commission, extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Spajić, the Government of Montenegro, and society at large.

I am pleased that we are here, just six months later, to close another chapter, which is a testament to your seriousness, dedication, and credible planning. What we are doing today exemplifies the EU expansion process based on merit, sending a significant signal to the entire region. Montenegro is fulfilling its commitments according to the established timeline. We are optimistic about more intergovernmental conferences this year where we can celebrate together, Kopman stated.

He noted that the electronic public procurement system has significantly minimized the potential and risk of corruption in this domain.

Prime Minister Spajić also reaffirmed Montenegro’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law, enhancing citizens’ standards, promoting good neighborly relations, and advancing European integration.

With your support, by the end of this year, we aim to close five more chapters, with a high probability of achieving our internal readiness for two additional ones. The negotiating framework and all departments are diligently collaborating with the Commission. We pledge to earn your approval to close as many chapters this year as in the previous twelve. We will be six times successful, the Prime Minister of Montenegro concluded.

With the closure of Chapter 5, the number of temporarily closed negotiation chapters has now risen to seven.