One of candidate countries enters final stretch toward EU membership
Illustrative photo: Montenegro emerges as a frontrunner in EU accession talks (Getty Images)
The European Union is beginning preparations for an accession treaty with Montenegro, marking another step on the country’s path toward membership, according to Euractiv.
According to European officials, ambassadors of all 27 EU member states have agreed to establish an "ad hoc working party" that will be responsible for drafting the accession treaty.
"We are confident that this will send a powerful signal that accession is within reach for enlargement partners," said a spokesperson for Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, commenting on the decision taken during a meeting in Brussels.
Montenegro, along with Albania, is considered one of the leading candidates for EU membership after Croatia, which joined the bloc in 2013.
The country has already completed negotiations on 14 of the 35 chapters covering key policy areas, ranging from taxation to environmental standards. This raises expectations that the accession process could be concluded in the coming years.
"Excellent news is coming from Brussels," said Montenegro’s Minister for European Affairs, Maida Gorčević.
According to her, the creation of the working group confirms that the country is moving in the right direction and could become an EU member by 2028.
Meanwhile, the EU acknowledges that new candidates could emerge in the accession queue that may overtake current applicants. These include economically developed countries such as Norway and Iceland, which already meet most EU criteria and could advance quickly in negotiations.
At the same time, the EU admits that such states appear more attractive for membership than poorer Eastern European countries.
