Montenegro views the EU Single Market as an opportunity for a new era in its economic development, according to the country’s chief negotiator, Predrag Zenović.
At a meeting of the Subcommittee on the Internal Market and Competition between Montenegro and the European Commission (EC), held on Tuesday in Podgorica, Zenović explained that the EU Single Market is not only an economic concept but also a political project aimed at bringing European nations closer together through shared standards, rules, and values.
Zenović emphasized that the Single Market is one of the most ambitious and crucial projects in European integration and that Montenegro sees it as a chance for a new phase of its economic growth.
The Ministry of European Affairs reported that the meeting was opened by Zenović and Ivona Savićević, the Director General of the Directorate for International Cooperation, European Integration, and EU Fund Implementation. On behalf of the European Commission, Heinke Veit, Deputy Head of the Unit for Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood, co-chaired the meeting.
“Competition, on the other hand, ensures that the space remains dynamic, innovative, and sustainable, without monopolies, and with equal rules for all. Together, these two principles represent the foundation for social and personal progress and well-being,” Zenović stated.
Veit acknowledged that Montenegro is making great efforts on its path to EU membership.
“It has an ambitious plan, and this is a momentum we must leverage on both sides,” Veit said, adding that the negotiation process remains crucial and that progress in Chapters 23 and 24 will dictate the overall pace of the process.
She noted that a broad political consensus, unity, and focus are the only way to meet the criteria for closing the negotiation chapters.
“In this regard, the Commission welcomed the agreement reached on March 15 to resolve the dispute over the Constitutional Court,” Veit added.
She further stressed the need to intensify the pace of the process and expressed confidence that by the end of the year, six negotiation chapters will be closed.
Zenović announced that Montenegro has continued its strong reform efforts within the EU negotiations, achieving significant progress in aligning its legislation with EU acquis in key areas.
Regarding the free movement of capital, he mentioned that Montenegro had provided the European Commission with comprehensive documentation on four key laws, and the relevant directorate is expected to conduct an analysis.
In the area of public procurement, Zenović highlighted that the high level of alignment with EU standards, as a result of years of reforms, has laid the foundation for the temporary closure of this chapter, sending a strong signal to the economy and citizens that public money is being spent responsibly and transparently.
He explained that intense communication with the EC in the area of commercial law is focused on aligning regulations in key segments, with a goal of temporarily closing this chapter by the end of the year.
Progress has also been made in the intellectual property rights chapter, with its closure at the last intergovernmental conference confirming Montenegro’s commitment to innovation, freedom of creation, and the protection of copyright.
In the area of competition, progress has been made through strengthening the capacity of the Competition Protection Agency and the judiciary, along with the implementation of an Action Plan for further development of the regulatory framework.
Zenović reminded that a significant number of laws have been adopted in the financial services domain, with new regulations expected by the end of the second quarter, which will allow for the closure of this chapter.
He concluded that progress in consumer and health protection is evident in the adoption of key strategic documents, the development of healthcare, the quality of healthcare services and digital health initiatives.
