19.12.2025. 07:00h
A working group for drafting the treaty on Montenegro’s accession to the European Union (EU) will be formed next year, as there are many procedural details that need to be agreed upon before its establishment – sources from the EU Council told “Vijesti”, claiming that the work could “take a long time”.
Although, according to unofficial information from the editorial team, Denmark was ready to put the formation of the working group on the agenda at the end of this year, before the end of its presidency of the Council of the EU, that task will have to wait for the Cypriot presidency, which begins on January 1, 2026.
The establishment of a working group to draft an accession treaty was also envisaged in the EU Presidency conclusions, which were adopted on Tuesday. These were originally conclusions of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (GAC), but their adoption was blocked by Hungary, due to its opposition to Ukraine’s accession to the EU. Therefore, they were transformed into conclusions of the EU Presidency, with the support of the 26 members of that community.
The conclusions point to Montenegro’s progress and 12 closed chapters, as well as the expectation of “redrawing” additional chapters as soon as possible.
The document states that the EU Council decides to establish an ad hoc working group to draft the accession treaty, and that necessary preparatory activities are expected to ensure the efficient functioning of this working body after its establishment, including the clarification of key principles of future accession treaties.
A source for “Vijesti” from the EU Council said that failure to adopt the conclusions at the GAC could further complicate the situation, adding that the decision to form a working group is made by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States (COREPER II), a body of the EU Council.
He also pointed out that “there is still a lot of preparatory work to be done” and that “it will certainly take time,” emphasizing that the Cypriot presidency has made enlargement one of the priorities of its six-month presidency of the Union.
Another editorial source stated that a decision on the working group will have to be made next year.
“No Council conclusions are needed. COREPER II will adopt the decision to form the group,” he said.
The situation surrounding the formation of the working group became complicated because, at the request of France, one of the skeptical members when it comes to EU enlargement, an informal agreement was reached to postpone the start of its work until several conditions were met.
“Vijesti” sources from diplomatic circles and the Government claim that French representatives tried to “squeeze” their conditions for the working group into the EU Council conclusions on enlargement, but that instead an informal agreement was reached on the conditions for the start of its work, which was also hinted at in the draft conclusions.
It was agreed that the working group would convene for the first time once Montenegro “closes a sufficient number of chapters” and the EU and member states gain insight and provide guidance “on the future format of accession treaties.” It is not clear whether it has been agreed how many chapters are enough for it to start working.
Some member states are reportedly demanding that the accession treaty with Montenegro be a model for other candidate countries.
The French justification for delaying the start of work on the agreement with Montenegro was allegedly that it was important to give member states more time in the coming period to assess the progress made in reforms. For this purpose, experts should arrive in Montenegro in early 2026 to work on the evaluation of reforms.
Last Friday, France blocked the closure of two chapters for Montenegro, but after intensive diplomatic activities by representatives of Podgorica and the member states, Paris nevertheless gave the “green light” for their “redrawing”. Thus, all five chapters were formally closed on Tuesday in Brussels, at the intergovernmental conference between Montenegro and the EU. Chapters 3 (Right of establishment and freedom to provide services), 4 (Free movement of capital), 6 (Commercial law), 11 (Agriculture and rural development) and 13 (Fisheries) were closed.
This means that Montenegro has so far closed a total of 12 chapters in negotiations with the EU, which were opened in 2012. The government plans to close the remaining chapters (another 21) by the end of next year.
Milatović requested the formation of a working group.
President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic asked the President of Cyprus yesterday Nikos Christodoulides forming a working group to draft an accession treaty. He met with his Cypriot counterpart in Brussels, on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans Summit. Milatović also asked Christodoulides to close as many chapters as possible in the first half of next year by organizing several intergovernmental conferences during their presidency.
Hristodulidis, as announced by Milatović’s office, said that Montenegro will have “a strong political tailwind on its European path” during the Cypriot presidency.
The Cypriot president told reporters yesterday morning, ahead of the Summit, that the EU “must deliver results” when it comes to enlargement.
“Enlargement is part of the EU’s political domain, and we must do much more. We must succeed,” said Christodoulidis.
The unquestionable strategic importance of the Western Balkans
The draft programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, published by the daily Cyprus Mail, states that during its six-month mandate, Cyprus will “advance the enlargement agenda in accordance with the established methodology, fair and rigorous conditionality, as well as the principle of individual merit and reversibility”.
“The aim is to achieve further solid progress in the enlargement process of both the Western Balkan countries and the Eastern candidates, while supporting and encouraging their commitment and active engagement in European integration, through reforms and tangible progress in key areas,” the document states.
It appears that the strategic importance of the Western Balkans region is unquestionable, given the new geopolitical context and changed dynamics in Europe.
Accordingly, Cyprus will, as stated, “seek to strengthen the role and visibility of the EU in the Western Balkans, while continuing close cooperation with transatlantic partners to strengthen the region’s resilience to the influence of third actors.”
It adds that “an enlarged Union will be stronger and more prosperous, nurturing the values and principles on which it is founded, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.”
It is emphasized that Cyprus will “continue working on internal EU reforms, with the aim of ensuring that the Union’s policies, finances and institutions are fit for the future.”
Turkey remains a candidate
The draft program of the Cyprus presidency specifically mentions Turkey, stating that the country “remains a candidate country” and that “its relations with the EU will continue to be assessed within the framework established by the European Council in April 2024.”
The European Council stated at the time that work on building relations between the EU and Turkey would proceed “gradually, proportionately and reversibly”, with “particular importance” being given to “the continuation and progress of negotiations on a solution to the Cyprus issue”, Cyprus Mail recalls.
Gorčević: It is less important when the working group will be formed
Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević told Television Vijesti last night that it is less important whether the working group will be formed in May, June or September, but rather that it is important that Montenegro “completes all negotiation chapters by the end of 2026.”
She said that this would also depend on communication with EU member states about
transitional or transitional periods for the remaining negotiation chapters “for which Montenegro will request three, five or ten years”.
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