Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević said that in 2025, Montenegro made great progress in European integration – it closed six negotiation chapters, received 150 million euros from EU funds and became a member of SEPA.
After the recent closure of five chapters in Brussels, the most demanding phase of closing all the remaining chapters by the end of 2026 follows, which is more important than the drafting of the Accession Treaty, which, according to her estimates, could begin in the middle of next year.
In an interview with Televizija Vijesti, he reveals what obligations await Montenegro in the coming year.
“2026 will be a great challenge for Montenegro. In terms of both technical and political communication with member states, we must remind ourselves somewhere that the goal of this process does not only involve filling gaps and closing negotiation chapters, but also diplomatic and political communication with the 27 member states, because ultimately each of them will vote for itself in Montenegro’s accession,” said Gorčević.
This latest success had, let me say, a prehistory. That is, we had a situation where France intended, so it seemed and so it was said before the intergovernmental conference, to block two chapters, 11 and 13. However, the President of the country stepped on the scene, if we understood him correctly, at your request he communicated with President Macron and the rest is history. So, we managed to close five chapters.
“All together and united, we managed to send a message of unity somewhere in the end, which Montenegro is now celebrating as a success. We should not ignore the fact that my role is the main coordinator of the entire process, and I specifically asked President Milatović to address (Macron), given that diplomatic practice also implies communication at the same level. So, I will speak with the ministers of European affairs, the ministers of foreign affairs, but communication must also take place between the two presidents,” said Gorčević.
When you talk about merit, who took the laurels? We had a situation that left the public with the impression that such a serious process was being approached somewhat frivolously in terms of the polemic between the president and the prime minister, which was a bit like that teenage argument “I finished it, no I finished it”, simply, is that a bit frivolous approach to such a serious process?
“The laurels were brought primarily by the citizens. The laurels were brought by the whole of Montenegro. I really wouldn’t comment on how they communicate and everything we have seen in the previous days and in the media. I believe that we should approach this process seriously for the simple reason that we are expecting many more, so to speak, calls of this or similar nature from all 27 member states in 2026.”
When can we expect the formation of a working group for drafting the accession treaty and how long could their work possibly last? Is the June mentioned in circulation or would you not go that far in predicting the date when the working group could be formed?
“Whether it will be May, June or September, I think is less important. It is important that we complete all negotiation chapters by the end of 2026 and it is important that we somehow wrap up this entire process as we planned at the very beginning. Communication with member states is not at all simple or easy, and as I mentioned somewhere, it is not just a technical process. It is multi-layered, political, and implies constant involvement. If we also take into account the fact that one of the articles of the accession treaty will be a transitional period or transitional periods for negotiation chapters, then communication with member states in the part of our visits to them for these key chapters that remain, for which we will ask for three, five or 10 years, as we agree with them, will be one of the more important conclusions and when the working group will be formed.
When we talk about the remaining obligations, which are being insisted on in Brussels, these are the filling of the Constitutional Court, or rather its completion, as well as the agency for audio-visual media services. Will you invest your authority in communicating with the parliament to ensure that these appointments are implemented as soon as possible?
“I am sure that we will wrap up these issues, especially around the Constitutional Court, very soon. I know that the three calls for judges should be wrapped up sometime in January, February, depending on the dynamics and agenda of the parliament, but my call will also be addressed to them absolutely for all issues related to EU integration because the Government will complete its part of the work, but we cannot wrap up everything without the parliament. And not only without the parliament, but also without the judicial branch of government and the inclusion of absolutely all actors of this society,” said Gorčević.
News