Montenegro and Albania Close Key EU Negotiation Chapters

At an inter‑governmental conference in Brussels, Montenegro provisionally closed Chapter 8 (Competition) and Chapter 29 (Customs Union), bringing the total of closed chapters to 18 of the 33 required for EU accession. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Deputy Prime Minister Nik Đeljošaj hailed the step as a major milestone toward full membership. In parallel, Albania temporarily closed its first three negotiating chapters – Chapter 25 (Science & Research), Chapter 26 (Education & Culture) and Chapter 30 (Foreign Relations) – a move described by Prime Minister Edi Rama as a “kilometre‑stone” in the country’s EU path. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos praised both advances, noting that they move the Western Balkan candidates past the halfway point in the accession process and strengthen their institutions to meet EU standards.