Montenegro Closes Another Negotiating Chapter Today Montenegro is poised to close its 14th negotiation chapter on Trans-European Transport Networks, bringing them closer to EU membership. However, analysts deem the goal of joining the EU by 2028 as overly ambitious due to ongoing political crises and unresolved corruption cases. A recent controversy involves disputed laws on internal affairs and national security, which the EU finds non-compliant, and President Milatović’s opposition to them.

• Montenegro is expected to close the Trans-European Transport Networks chapter today, making it the 14th of 33 chapters closed.
• The country aims for EU membership by 2028, a goal considered overly ambitious by analysts.
• A political crisis has emerged following the adoption of controversial laws on internal affairs and national security, which the EU deems non-compliant.
• President Jakov Milatović has opposed these laws, returning them for reconsideration.
• Progress in corruption and organized crime cases is slow, with few convictions, despite ongoing trials and detentions of former officials.