Podgorica, 30 October 2026, dtt-net.com – The European Commission believes that Montenegro deserves to conclude negotiating chapters 23 and 24 in the negotiating process for EU membership.”
Chapter 23 is about Judiciary and fundamental rights, and Chapter 24 about Justice, freedom and security, and are the two crucial on rule of law needed reforms for candidate countries.
“Concrete results are important and Montenegro has shown that it can achieve them in all negotiation chapters. What is extremely important – in the area of the rule of law. We recommend that member states close chapters 23 and 24,” the head of the EU office in Podgorica told a forum held in the EU capital.
But Podgorica has unsolved disputes with the EU member Croatian.
Montenegro is the frontrunner in EU accession process. It has opened all 33 negotiating chapters and closed 18 so far. As two chapters are automatically closed without talks, it has to close another 15.
The government in Podgorica hopes to close all 6 remaining chapters later this year, hoping that the country will become member of the EU in 2028.
