Today, the Ministry of Finance announced the closure of Chapter 5 (public procurement) in Montenegro’s EU negotiations. This marks the first chapter under the Ministry of Finance’s jurisdiction and the first in the rule of law sector.

The Ministry of Finance stated, “Montenegro has made a significant advancement on its European journey. As the custodian of Chapter 5, we received strong validation in Brussels for managing public funds transparently, efficiently, and responsibly, in accordance with top European standards. This chapter, now approved by all 27 EU member states, is crucial since it impacts every citizen; efficient public procurement leads to improved schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and services.”

Minister Novica Vuković expressed that finalizing this chapter is both a significant professional achievement and an honor, being the first chapter under the Ministry of Finance’s oversight to be closed during his term, particularly in the field of the rule of law.

He mentioned that his department meets European standards and has been validated by the European Commission (EC).

He pointed out that this is not only a crucial milestone for the finance sector but also serves as motivation for the entire country to persist in dedicating efforts to further reforms.

Gert Jan Kopman, Director General of the EC Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood, remarked, “I am delighted that just six months in, we are closing another chapter due to your seriousness, commitment, and credible planning. Everything is unfolding according to the expected timeline.”

He emphasized that this Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) demonstrates the effectiveness of merit-based enlargement and sends a strong message to the entire region.

“I look forward to celebrating several more IGOs by year-end,” added Kopman.

The Ministry of Finance noted that the approval from Brussels followed a decade of diligent work by a team led by Jelena Jovetić, the Director General of the Ministry, resulting in a modernized public procurement system.

“The process has seen complete reform, digitization, and acceleration, with the CeJN platform becoming a hallmark of transparency and digital transformation. These reforms have safeguarded public interest and bolstered the anti-corruption framework. The system is now fully aligned with EU legislation, boasts over nine thousand trained officials, and consists of more than thirty by-laws,” the Ministry of Finance stated.

The reforms led to a rise in the competition index from an average bid of 2.01 in 2019 to 3.03 in 2024.

“Currently, the public procurement framework is utilized by 4,542 active economic entities, generating economic activity amounting to around 847 million euros in total public procurement value last year, conducted by roughly 700 public bodies through e-procurement. The acknowledgment from Brussels that Montenegro exhibits fair market competition and a public procurement system that benefits citizens motivates the Ministry of Finance to continue enhancing supervision, control, and accountability for every euro spent publicly. Our objective is to fortify system stability and institutional confidence,” the Ministry conveyed.

They expressed gratitude to European partners for their support and acknowledgment of efforts throughout this process, as well as to the non-governmental sector for their meaningful contributions and the Montenegrin media for their professional reporting on the matter.

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