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Montenegro's rapid advance towards European Union membership has begun to bring the first financial benefits to Albania's northern neighbor. The European Commission said on Tuesday it had approved a 3.2 billion euro financial package that sets out the budgetary adjustments that will apply to Montenegro after its accession to the European Union, which the country aims to achieve by early 2028.
"The package we adopted today is the fulfilment of the EU's side of the deal, while Montenegro is doing important work on its path to membership. It will make Montenegro's transition from candidate country to member state as smooth as possible. It will ensure continuity from day one of membership ," Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said in a statement.
The package is designed to ensure Montenegro's full participation in EU policies and budget, aiming to prevent funding disruptions and minimize unnecessary administrative burden.
It will help accelerate economic convergence, support sustainable growth and further promote integration into the EU single market to the benefit of Montenegro and other member states, the Commission noted.
The package, which is in line with the EU's next long-term budgetary framework for 2028-2034, covers areas such as regional development, agriculture, social policy and home affairs, with payments linked to the fulfilment of agreed steps. Montenegrin citizens, businesses and institutions will benefit from increased investment, stronger public institutions and deeper integration, the statement said.
The proposed financial package marks another important step on Montenegro's path to EU membership, following the agreement in April by member states to start drafting the accession treaty, the Commission said. The ad hoc working group responsible for drafting the treaty held its inaugural meeting in May.
Earlier in June, the EU and Montenegro provisionally closed two more negotiating chapters in the accession talks, bringing the total number of chapters provisionally closed so far to 16.
Montenegro aspires to close all 17 remaining open chapters by the end of 2026, setting a goal of becoming the 28th member state in 2028.
The Commission said on Tuesday that it has submitted its proposal regarding Montenegro's financial package to the EU Council, noting that the package is subject to negotiations between the EU and Montenegro.
Montenegro applied for EU membership in December 2008 and was granted EU candidate status in December 2010. EU-Montenegro accession negotiations began in June 2012. /Kapitali.al
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