European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said on Thursday she will ask Montenegro’s Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić why he has not yet visited Brussels.
Kos made the comment during a press conference with Montenegro Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, ahead of a scheduled meeting with Mandić at 14:15 local time in the White Salon of the Montenegrin Parliament.
Kos, on an official visit to Montenegro from March 25–27, said the meeting would focus on the country’s ongoing EU accession negotiations, European priorities, and next steps toward EU membership.
Kos praised Montenegro as the most advanced EU candidate in the Western Balkans and stressed the need to accelerate reforms and law implementation. She highlighted the importance of strengthening the rule of law, including an independent judiciary, anti-corruption efforts, and independent media.
“Those who respect the rules will not notice them; our aim is to prevent situations where member states fail to comply,” she said.
Kos said she had begun training to climb Bobotov Kuk, Montenegro’s highest peak, as a personal milestone to mark the closure of all EU negotiation chapters. She called for unity among political forces to achieve EU membership.
Prime Minister Spajić said Montenegro had 19 EU accession chapters remaining and described the year as “crucial” for advancing negotiations. He noted that implementing the EU acquis requires the transposition of around 300,000 pages of legislation into national law.
Kos also said she would discuss with Mandić the harmonization of the Law on National Security Agency and internal affairs legislation with EU directives.
During her visit, Kos was received by Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović, who highlighted the city’s commitment to the EU path and ongoing development projects, including a planned green corridor along the Morača River. EU Ambassador Johan Satler joined the delegation for a working meeting and a short city tour.
According to the European Commission, Montenegro has opened all EU negotiation chapters and has closed 14, with six completed last year and two additional chapters closed so far this year.