"The Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Montenegro and the EU entered into force in May 2010. The European Council granted the status of candidate country to Montenegro in December 2010. Accession negotiations were opened in June 2012. EU and NATO accession are the two key foreign policy priorities of Montenegro. In December 2015, Montenegro received an invitation to join NATO. The relevant Accession Protocol was signed in May 2016 and is currently being ratified by NATO members.

Four negotiating chapters were opened during the reporting period. Holding the accession conferences was made possible also due to the progress made in the area of the rule of law, as per the requirements of the Negotiating Framework. Progress towards meeting the interim benchmarks set in the rule of law chapters will be key for further progress in the negotiations overall."

For more information the full Report in available in the attachments.