New Montenegro–EU intergovernmental conference could be held on September 22 in Brussels

The new intergovernmental conference between Montenegro and the European Union, at which Podgorica is to continue closing negotiation chapters, could be held on September 22 in Brussels — the same day the EU General Affairs Council (GAC) meets. This was told unofficially to “Vijesti” by sources from the Montenegrin Government.

The Ministry of European Affairs (MEP) did not answer the newsroom’s questions as to which chapters are expected to be closed at the September conference. According to the Government source, this will depend on the EU Council’s Working Group on enlargement (COELA), which examines whether the conditions for closing chapters have been met.

European Affairs Minister Maida Gorçeviq had declared on September 4, during the informal meeting of EU ministers in Dublin, that Montenegro has adopted and sent to the European Commission the negotiating positions for nine chapters, while the positions for the remaining six still-open chapters are expected to be submitted by the end of September. A day earlier, “Dan” reported that the closure of four chapters is expected soon: 12 (food safety), 14 (transport policy), 18 (statistics) and 19 (social policy).

The last intergovernmental conference was held on July 14 in Brussels, when two chapters — 8 (competition) and 29 (customs union) — were provisionally closed, bringing the number of provisionally closed chapters to 18 out of 33 total. Chapter 14 was ready even in July, but Croatia did not give the green light, raising among other things the issue of cabotage — the right of one country’s carriers to perform transport within another country — as well as the issue of air maps. Croatia has already blocked chapter 31 (foreign, security and defense policy) for Montenegro over unresolved bilateral issues.

The Montenegrin Government’s plan foresees the closure of the remaining 15 chapters by the end of this year, during the Irish presidency of the EU Council. On the GAC agenda of September 22 will also be the rule of law in candidate countries, with representatives of Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia invited to the debate.

Source: Vijesti