Accession of Montenegro to the European Union is on the agenda for future enlargement of the EU.
Shortly after voting for independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in a referendum in 2006, Montenegro began the process of accession to the European Union by agreeing to a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, which officially came into force on 1 May 2010.
Montenegro officially applied to join the EU on 15 December 2008, and membership negotiations began on 29 June 2012. With all the negotiating chapters opened, the country enjoys a widespread support among EU members' officials, and accession of the country to the EU is considered possible by 2025, though as of September 2023 30 chapters still remain to be closed. It is one of eight current EU candidate countries, together with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
History
Note: This section covers the relationship between Montenegro and the EU since Montenegro's potential candidate status was granted.
Identification
Montenegro was granted potential candidate status in December 2002, when it was still in a union with Serbia. The country's European Perspective was recognized by the EU in June 2006 at the Thessaloniki Summit.
Recommendation
The European Commission recommended Montenegro as candidate country on 9 November 2010.
Candidacy
Montenegro officially was granted candidate status on 17 December 2010.
Membership application
Montenegro officially applied to join the EU on 15 December 2008.
Questionnaire
On 23 April 2009, the Council invited the European Commission to submit its opinion on the application. The Commission presented Montenegro with a questionnaire to assess its application on 22 July 2009. On 9 December 2009, Montenegro delivered its answers to the EC questionnaire. In 2010, the Commission issued a favourable opinion on Montenegro's application, identifying seven key priorities that would need to be addressed for negotiations to begin.
Treaties
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro started the process of Accession to the European Union in November 2005, when negotiations over a Stabilisation and Association Agreement began. Such agreements were concluded by the EU with states that have expressed a wish to become members. In exchange for commitments to political, economic, trade, or human rights reform in the country, it may be offered tariff-free access to some or all EU markets (industrial goods, agricultural products, etc.), and financial or technical assistance. In May 2006, Montenegro voted for independence in a referendum and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was dissolved. Serbia continued with the existing SAA negotiations, and separate negotiations were launched with Montenegro in September 2006. The Agreement was initialled on 15 March 2007, and officially signed on 15 October 2007. After all the 27 member-states of EU had ratified the SAA, it came into force on 1 May 2010.
EU programs and organisations
Eastern Partnership: 22 January 2007
Energy Community: joined 15 December 2006
European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity:
Public opinion
Montenegro's population is overwhelmingly pro-EU, with 76.2% being in favour according to polling and only 9.8% against, in October 2009.
As of May 2023, the support of the citizens of Montenegro for the country's membership in the European Union reached a record high level of 79.3%, according to a survey commissioned by the EU Delegation to Montenegro. 75.9% of citizens believe that Montenegro will become a member of the EU. Over 90% of citizens would vote in the referendum, and 81.1% of those voting would support Montenegro's membership in the EU.
Negotiations
In December 2011, the Council agreed to launch the accession process, with negotiations beginning on 29 June 2012.
With all the negotiating chapters opened, the country enjoys a widespread support among EU members' officials, and accession of the country to the EU is considered possible by 2025. In its 2016 assessment of the accession progress, European Commission has identified Montenegro as having the highest level of preparation for membership among the negotiating states. Until 2020, Montenegro had received €507 million of developmental aid from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, a funding mechanism for EU candidate countries.
