Montenegro

Montenegro is one of the Western Balkan countries, with a population of 700 000 people. The capital and largest city is Podgorica.

On the basis of an independence referendum held on 21 May 2006, Montenegro declared independence on 3 June of the same year.

Montenegro is a member of the UN, NATO, the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the Central European Free Trade Agreement and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean.

The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro started the process of Accession to the European Union in November 2005, when negotiations over the Stabilisation and Association Agreement began. In May 2006, Montenegro voted for independence in the referendum and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was dissolved.

Serbia continued with the existing negotiations, and separate negotiations were launched with Montenegro in September 2006.

Two years after the declaration of independence, in 2008 the country applied for the EU membership.

In 2010, the Commission issued a favourable opinion on Montenegro’s application, identifying 7 key priorities that would need to be addressed for negotiations to begin, and the Council granted it the candidate status.

In December 2011, the Council launched the accession process with a view to opening negotiations in June 2012.

Important dates

15 October 2007 – Montenegro signs the Stabilisation and Association Agreement

15 December 2008 – Formal application for membership submitted

19 December 2009 – Visa requirement lifted for Montenegrins visiting the EU

01 May 2010 – Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) enters into force

17 December 2010 – Montenegro receives official candidate status

26 March 2012 – Screening process started

29 June 2012 – Opening the accession negotiations with Montenegro

27 June 2013 – Screening completed

31 March 2014 – Montenegro opens Chapters 7 and 10

24 June 2014 – Montenegro opens Chapters 4, 31 and 32

16 December 2014 – Montenegro opens Chapters 18, 28, 29 and 33

30 March 2015 – Montenegro opens Chapters 16 and 30

22 June 2015 – Montenegro opens Chapters 9 and 21

21 December 2015 – Montenegro opens Chapters 14 and 15

30 June 2016 – Montenegro opens Chapters 12 and 13

13 December 2016 – Montenegro opens Chapters 11 and 19

05 June 2017 – Montenegro formally becomes a member of NATO

20 June 2017 – Montenegro opens Chapters 1, 22 and 30

11 December 2017 – Montenegro opens Chapters 2 and 3

26 June 2018 – Montenegro opens Chapter 17

10 December 2018 – Montenegro opens Chapters 27