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Montenegro closes two more chapters in EU accession talks

Montenegro and the European Union reached provisional agreement on goods and food-safety chapters, bringing the total closed to 23 out of 33 opened. The decision advances accession negotiations while monitoring continues. The European Commission considers a year-end finish possible if required reforms are completed, and the EU retains the power to reopen chapters.

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An over-the-shoulder view of delegates discussing an agreement at Montenegro–EU accession talks, with closed folders, papers and water glasses on the table.

Goods and food-safety chapters close provisionally

Montenegro and the European Union provisionally closed two accession chapters on 6 November. The agreement covers free movement of goods and food safety, veterinary and plant-health policy, following an intergovernmental conference on the country's membership negotiations.[1], [2]

The decision concerns Chapters 1 and 12. Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters, of which 23 have now reached provisional closure. The meeting was the third accession conference held for Montenegro during Ireland's presidency of the EU Council, which represents member states.[1]

Earlier closures covered economic and social policy

At the preceding conference on 12 October, the two sides provisionally closed Chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy, Chapter 18 on statistics and Chapter 19 on social policy and employment. The November meeting continues those negotiations through the goods and food-related policy areas.[1]

Reforms and monitoring remain on the accession agenda

Ireland's European affairs and defence minister Thomas Byrne welcomed the decision. He cited the European Commission's enlargement assessment and said negotiations could realistically finish by year-end once Montenegro implements the necessary reforms. Alignment with EU law and its implementation remain under monitoring. Individual chapter agreements become final only with an overall agreement, and the EU can revisit provisionally closed chapters when necessary.[1]

References

  1. News sourceEuropean CommissionMontenegro provisionally closes two more EU accession chapters↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourcePortal AnalitikaMontenegro closes accession chapters on goods and food safety↩
Russia-Ukraine warEnergy transition and climate

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