Memo: Key findings of the 2014 Progress Report on Montenegro

The Progress Report on Montenegro is part of the 2014 Enlargement Package adopted on the 8 October 2014 by the European Commission. This is the third Progress Report on Montenegro since the country opened accession negotiations with the EU in June 2012. The European Commission concluded that the country continues to sufficiently meet the political criteria, made further progress in establishing a functioning market economy and had improved its ability to take on the obligations of EU membership. The screening process was concluded. During the reporting period, ten negotiating chapters were opened, including the rule of law chapters, 23 – Judiciary and fundamental rights and 24 – Justice, freedom and security. These chapters were opened on the basis of Action Plans submitted by Montenegro. Implementation of the action plans has started. Two negotiating chapters were already provisionally closed. Delays have been, however, noted on a number of measures, especially on legislative reforms. In other areas, legislative measures adopted had not yielded results in practice.

• Primary Source

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 11.10.14: Kenneth Morrison on Montenegro: The road to the EU may take longer than expected http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2014/10/11/experts-react-eu-progress-reports-2014/#Four

EurActiv, 08.10.14: Enlargement report package criticizes Montenegro http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/enlargement-report-package-criticizes-montenegro-309002

ESO: Background information: Enlargement Package 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/annual-enlargement-package/

EurActiv [Opinion], 09.10.14: Montenegro is not the EU poster child it claims to be http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/montenegro-not-eu-poster-child-it-claims-be-309068

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