Montenegro provisionally closes two more EU accession chapters, keeping 2028 target alive

Montenegro took a decisive step toward European Union membership on Monday, provisionally closing two more accession chapters and keeping its ambition of joining the bloc by 2028 firmly within reach. Negotiators in Brussels finalised talks on the free movement of workers and consumer and health protection, two of the 33 policy areas required for EU accession. The developments were confirmed by the EU Council’s official social media account and reported simultaneously by Balkan Insight .

Officials in Podgorica and Brussels reiterated their shared target of completing all remaining chapters by the end of 2026, a timeline that would allow Montenegro to accede to the EU in 2028 if negotiations remain on track. “Montenegro has once again demonstrated its commitment to the European path,” the EU Council wrote on its Bluesky account, underscoring the provisional closure of the two chapters. Balkan Insight noted that the progress brings the total number of closed chapters to 21, leaving 12 still open as the country races to meet its self-imposed deadline .

Montenegro applied for EU membership in 2008, received candidate status in 2010, and formally launched accession talks in 2012, a process that has seen steady but uneven progress over the past 14 years. The latest closures mark the second time in 2026 that Montenegro has advanced two chapters in a single month, a pace that suggests the government of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić is prioritising reforms despite domestic political headwinds. Danish public broadcaster DR reported the development under the headline “Montenegro moves closer to EU membership,” reflecting the broad European interest in the country’s accession trajectory .

Analysts caution that the remaining chapters—covering areas such as judiciary, fundamental rights, and competition policy—are among the most politically sensitive and technically complex. The provisional closures still require formal endorsement by EU member states, a step that is expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the country’s labour market reforms, particularly in the free movement of workers chapter, have drawn scrutiny from EU capitals concerned about potential migration flows.

With the clock ticking toward the end-of-year target, Podgorica is under pressure to accelerate reforms in rule-of-law institutions and economic governance. The provisional closures send a strong signal to sceptical capitals, but the final push will demand sustained political will and tangible results on the ground.