Montenegro approved to close three negotiation chapters, fourth blocked by Croatia

(Patria) - The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the European Union member states (COREPER) has approved Montenegro's closure of three negotiation chapters, while the closure of the fourth was blocked by Croatia, according to the MINA agency.

At today's COREPER meeting, Montenegro was approved to close Chapter 7 – intellectual property law, Chapter 10 – information society and media, and Chapter 20 – entrepreneurship and industrial policy.

The EU-Montenegro Intergovernmental Conference will be held on Monday.

According to information from the MINA agency in diplomatic circles, Croatia blocked the closure of Chapter 31 – foreign, security and defence policy.

⚡ Enlargement in full swing!

✅ Coreper has just approved the EU Common Position on closing three chapters paving the way for another intergovernmental conference with Montenegro to be held on 16 December.#HU24EU
🇭🇺🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/KhaYgibR1C

— Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 (@HU24EU) December 13, 2024

After COREPER, the final decision will be made by the Council of the European Union.

Croatia recently sent Montenegro a non-paper, an informal diplomatic document addressing several issues it considers open and which it claims harm relations between the two countries.

The document states, among other things, that it is necessary to resolve issues of minorities, ownership of the training ship Jadran, mutual border demarcation, prosecution of war crimes, finding missing persons, as well as the issue of the name of the city pool in Kotor.