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European Union enlargement

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This dossier follows EU accession steps and conditions, distinguishing political targets from completed membership.

Latest event : 2 key moments
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Construction of the Europa building, Council of the EU headquarters, Brussels.
Construction archive, 15 October 2013; does not show the 2026 meeting. Olnnu, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ ; unmodified. — Olnnu / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ ; chantier du bâtiment Europa, 15 octobre 2013 ; sans modification.

Where things stand

On 6 November 2026, the EU and Montenegro provisionally closed chapters 1 and 12, bringing the total to 23 of 33. Commission roadmaps for candidate countries remain indicative; no accession is secured.

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Confirmed

Montenegro provisionally closes two more EU accession chapters

The European Union and Montenegro provisionally closed chapters on free movement of goods and food safety in Brussels on 6 November 2026. The country now has 23 of 33 negotiating chapters provisionally closed.

Construction of the Europa building, Council of the EU headquarters, Brussels.
Construction archive, 15 October 2013; does not show the 2026 meeting. Olnnu, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ ; unmodified. — Olnnu / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ ; chantier du bâtiment Europa, 15 octobre 2013 ; sans modification.

The decision was taken at the thirtieth accession conference. It covers chapter 1 and chapter 12, which also includes veterinary and phytosanitary policy. The EU Council and Montenegrin reporting agree on this new step.

Ten chapters therefore remain to be closed. Sectoral agreements remain provisional until an overall agreement covering all negotiations is reached, the Council notes; the EU can revisit a chapter if necessary.

The progress does not amount to membership or a guaranteed entry date. Monitoring of reforms and implementation of European law continues.

Sources 3
Reported information

EU sets out roadmaps for four candidate countries

The European Commission adopted its annual enlargement package on 4 November 2026, including indicative roadmaps for Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine.

The Berlaymont in Brussels, July 2006.
Archive image, not the 2026 package presentation. JLogan, CC BY 3.0; unchanged. — JLogan / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ; juillet 2006 ; sans modification.

Brussels sets milestones for the coming year and proposes a common framework for gradual integration before accession, including in energy, transport, digital affairs and defence.

According to the Commission, negotiations with Montenegro could close by the end of 2026 and a treaty could be signed as early as June 2027. This timetable remains conditional: it establishes neither completed accession nor a date of EU membership.

Sources 3