Montenegro
Montenegro applied for EU membership in December 2008 and was granted EU candidate status in December 2010. Montenegro began EU accession negotiations in 2012. So far, 33 chapters have been opened for negotiations, of which three chapters have already been provisionally closed. In June 2024, at the 16th Intergovernmental Conference, the EU confirmed that Montenegro had met the interim benchmarks set for Chapters 23 and 24.
K4R Technical Support Assignments encompass various chapters and areas, such as energy, environment, transport, agriculture, food safety, and company law.
In this context, the K4R Programme has provided horizontal support and advice to the Prime Minister Office and the Ministry of European Affairs on EU negotiations to improve processes and outputs for EU accession and upscale public communication on EU accession negotiations. In the energy sector, work is being done to prepare laws on cross-border energy infrastructure projects, the electricity market integration package, along with oil supply security. For environment and climate change, capacities are being built to negotiate EU standards on buildings and activities involving organic solvents, develop noise protection maps and control invasive alien species. In transport, work on interoperability and safety in railways has been crucial, while Montenegro receives support in formulating an EU accession negotiation position, developing a payment system and supporting areas facing natural constraints in the field of agriculture and rural development. Extensive legal support is being provided in the fields of food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policy and in the area of company law to align with EU regulations.
In conclusion, the Knowledge for Reform Action (K4R) Programme has played a critical role in advancing Montenegro’s EU accession efforts by delivering comprehensive technical support across a wide range of sectors. From energy and environment to agriculture, transport, and legal frameworks, K4R's expertise has helped Montenegro align with EU standards and improve its negotiation processes. By providing horizontal support to key government offices and facilitating the development of legislation in crucial areas like food safety, company law, and public communication, K4R has significantly strengthened Montenegro’s capacity to meet EU accession benchmarks and progress towards full membership.
