From the POSP meeting, Photo: Parliament of Montenegro
30.04.2026. 6:25 p.m
The Parliamentary Committee of the European Union (EU) and Montenegro for Stabilization and Association (POSP) called on Montenegro to make progress in harmonizing with the EU visa policy, assessing that the seasonal cancellations of the visa regime are incompatible with the EU acquis.
This is stated in the POSP Declaration, which was adopted today, after a two-day meeting in Strasbourg.
The declaration confirmed support for Montenegro’s accession to the EU and welcomed the significant progress achieved in the previous period, but, among other things, pointed out the importance of providing full access to the archives of the former Yugoslav State Security Service (UDBA) and the Counterintelligence Service (KOS) of the JNA, including the archives located in Podgorica.
Montenegro is encouraged to maintain the goal of concluding negotiations by the end of the year, while EU institutions and member states are urged to start internal preparations for accession, including the drafting of the Accession Treaty.
The regular functioning of the Assembly was marked as crucial, because in 2026, Montenegro expects a large volume of work on the European road.
Therefore, all political actors in the country are encouraged to continue to engage constructively and inclusively, to focus on the overarching goal of concluding the negotiations, and not to allow short-term political divisions to jeopardize the existing momentum.
Social and economic actors are invited to strengthen their engagement in preparations for accession to the European Union and expresses the belief that the discussion of identity issues in the multi-ethnic society of Montenegro requires broad, inclusive and long-term discussions, in order to ensure common interest and avoid polarization.
The rule of law remains crucial, especially meeting the final benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24, judicial appointments and strengthening results in the fight against high corruption and organized crime.
The recent election of the director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption was welcomed and the need to improve the balance of results in terms of investigations, criminal prosecutions and final judgments in cases of high corruption and organized crime was recalled.
The declaration reminds that the amendments to the Constitution related to the independence of the judiciary are one of the conditions for obtaining the final benchmarks under Chapter 23, and Montenegro expects them to be adopted through a broad consultative process.
It is emphasized that the resolution of open issues of property rights, including restitution, is essential for the fulfillment of Montenegro’s obligations under Chapter 23, and that it is a criterion for closing negotiations in the area of fundamental rights.
Harmonize the laws on ANB and internal affairs with the acquis of the EU
POSP notes the initiated reforms in the security sector and welcomes the results that have already been achieved, but emphasizes the need to carefully monitor the implementation of the Law on Internal Affairs and the Law on the National Security Agency and calls on Montenegro to fully harmonize these laws with the legal acquis of the European Union in the area of personal data protection.
It is again called for the completion of the electoral reform in Montenegro through the full implementation of the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR and GRECO, especially in the part of financing political entities and election campaigns, as well as updating the voter list. The adoption of the new anti-discrimination law, which is fully harmonized with the acquis of the EU and European standards, the adoption of the National Energy and Climate Plan of Montenegro at the end of 2025 is welcomed, but Montenegro is urged to accelerate reforms, especially in terms of reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports in light of recent geopolitical events, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and accelerating electrification. POSP believes that measures in the field of sustainable tourism and diversification of the tourist offer, in order to reduce dependence on seasonal oscillations, are necessary for the resilience of the Montenegrin economy.
Montenegro’s consistent and complete alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including restrictive measures, was welcomed, as were the efforts of the EU and Montenegro to strengthen the country’s resistance to foreign information manipulation and interference.
It is reminded that good neighborly relations and regional cooperation are an important value and political basis of the European path of every candidate.
POSP welcomes conducting dialogue with Croatia “in good faith to resolve open issues, in the spirit of European values and in accordance with the EU acquis, and to achieve progress within the framework of Chapter 31 on the Common Foreign and Security Policy”.
The importance of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean is emphasized again and in this context it is recalled the significant role of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region, which serves both as an instrument of internal cohesion and as a tool of foreign policy, contributing to the acceleration of the integration of candidate countries into the EU.
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