Montenegro closes three EU negotiating chapters; Albania closes chapter 20
European leaders welcomed the decisions — Montenegro now has 21 of 33 chapters closed and aims for full membership by 2028.
Montenegro has closed three additional negotiating chapters with the European Union, while Albania closed one, EU officials and regional leaders announced on October 12, 2026. Montenegro’s prime minister said the move brings his country closer to full membership by 2028.
Progress and numbers
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic told reporters after the intergovernmental conference with the EU that the Montenegrin government has completed the obligations within its competence for the final stage of talks. With the new closures — chapters 17, 18 and 19 — Montenegro now has 21 of 33 negotiating chapters closed.
Spajic described the three chapters as “three key pillars of European integration: responsible economic governance, reliable public policy-making and social progress,” and thanked the Commission and all 27 member states and the working groups that carried out the work.
“I believe that at other levels the necessary level of wisdom and compromise will be reached to bring this process to its final end,” Spajic said. He added that, “With our European partners we continue decisively towards full membership of Montenegro in 2028.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the decision on X, saying that it represents “a meaningful step towards a more complete Union,” and praised the hard work of both countries and “the remarkable European spirit of their people.”
Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said the reforms tied to the three closed chapters bring tangible benefits for Montenegro and urged the government and opposition to cooperate and take urgent, responsible decisions to avoid risking the country’s future. Ireland’s minister for European affairs and defence, Thomas Bern, emphasized that Montenegro’s momentum shows EU enlargement is possible and framed the progress as a success story that brings the country closer to accession.
On Albania, EU officials confirmed closure of chapter 20, covering industry and enterprise policy. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama described the move on social media as a step toward his country’s historic EU objective and said it improves prospects for investment, innovation, competitiveness and employment: “Albania closes the fourth chapter, the countdown to the historic goal begins.”
Photo: Veb-stranica na Vlada na Crna Gora
