Minister Byrne welcomes Montenegro’s continued progress towards EU accession
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (16 December) attended the 19th Intergovernmental Conference with Montenegro in Brussels. The Minister welcomed the continued progression of Montenegro’s EU accession following these negotiations.
During accession negotiations, which are structured according to clusters and chapters, candidate countries prepare to implement EU laws and standards. Today, Montenegro closed negotiations on chapters 3 (right of establishment and freedom to provide services), 4 (free movement of capital), 6 (company law), 11 (agriculture and rural development) and 13 (fisheries).
Commenting after the negotiations, Minister Byrne said: “These chapters closed today include policies of fundamental importance for both the EU and Montenegro’s economy and citizens, including agriculture and the free movement of capital. We particularly welcome Montenegro’s inclusion into the Single Euro Payments Area, which will make euro transactions between Montenegro and the EU more reliable and faster.
“Ireland remains ready to provide support to further progress Montenegro’s accession process in the period ahead, including before and during Ireland’s EU Presidency next year. We want to facilitate Montenegro's goal of closing all negotiating chapters by the end of our Presidency.
“I congratulate Montenegro on closing five additional negotiating chapters and encourage them to continue to pursue ambitious and sustainable efforts towards EU membership.”
ENDS
Press Office
16 December 2025
Notes
Negotiating chapters are divided in six thematic clusters: fundamentals; internal market; competitiveness and inclusive growth; green agenda and sustainable connectivity; resources, agriculture and cohesion; and external relations.
Under the EU enlargement methodology, chapters 3, 4 and 6 are part of Cluster 2, which covers EU policies on the internal market, while chapters 11 and 13 are part of Cluster 5 on resources, agriculture and cohesion.
The closing of these five chapters brings the number of chapters that Montenegro has provisionally closed to twelve out of thirty-three.