"Montenegro stands closer to the European Union than at any point in its history," said Marjan Šarec MEP (Gibanje Svoboda, SI), the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Montenegro last week, as the European Parliament adopted its report on Montenegro.
Liberals welcomed the adoption of the report, the closure of additional negotiating chapters and recognise the sustained efforts made by Montenegrin institutions. Every step Montenegro takes towards EU membership strengthens Europe as a whole.
The focus was on reform progress, commitment to European integration and strong citizens’ support for EU membership. The Parliament’s position on the 2025 European Commission report on Montenegro comes just two days after the Foreign Affairs Council confirmed the closure of two accession negotiations chapters.
Šarec MEP commented:
“Montenegro's progress demonstrates that enlargement is a strategic investment in European security, stability and resilience - not just for the country, but for Europe as a whole. The country remains the frontrunner in the enlargement process and has achieved substantial progress over the past year, with no other country as advanced in the process. With 16 chapters closed, for Montenegro EU membership is no longer a distant aspiration, but a realistic and achievable objective.”
Montenegro has spent more than a decade preparing for EU membership and has opened all 33 negotiating chapters, provisionally closing 16 of them. It has remained committed to European integration and has strong public support for membership.
Furthermore, it is aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, with restrictive measures against Russia following its aggression against Ukraine. Liberals call for continued momentum and concrete results on EU-related reforms in the next stage of the accession process.
Šarec concluded:
“The European Union must also do its part. It must remain credible, consistent, and ready to recognise real progress when it is achieved. If Montenegro delivers, the European Union must be ready to deliver as well.”