Montenegro closes chapters 8 and 29 at the Brussels Intergovernmental Conference

Spajić: Confirmation that we are building institutions capable of protecting competition, ensuring a fair market, and safeguarding the EU's external borders. Montenegro today, at the Intergovernmental Conference on accession in Brussels, closed two negotiating chapters: 8 - Competition and 29 - Customs Union, bringing the total number of closed chapters to 18. Addressing the conference participants, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić emphasized that Montenegro once again confirms that the reform process is yielding concrete results and that our country continues to progress toward full EU membership. The Prime Minister highlighted that today's closure of chapters confirms that Montenegro is building institutions capable of protecting competition, ensuring a fair market, and safeguarding the EU's external borders in accordance with common European rules. Regarding customs policy, he noted that Montenegro has transformed from a system once associated with smuggling into a modern customs administration that meets all European standards and is ready to protect the EU's external borders. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that Montenegro's progress at today's Intergovernmental Conference continues, and that closing 18 chapters is a significant achievement. Prime Minister Spajić conveyed that Montenegro remains fully committed to completing negotiations, continuing reforms, and strengthening the rule of law, with the belief that Montenegro's membership will contribute not only to our country but also to a stronger and more resilient European Union.