Montenegro parties commit to constitutional and electoral reforms for faster EU integration

Today, 7 July, the Montenegrin Parliament is scheduled to vote on government-proposed constitutional amendments, following a EU-facilitated agreement between the parliamentary majority and opposition that secured broad support for the changes.

In a significant breakthrough, Montenegro’s ruling majority and opposition have reached a landmark agreement on constitutional amendments, ending prolonged political deadlock and sending a strong signal of democratic maturity and commitment to European integration. The deal, facilitated by international partners including the EU, has been warmly welcomed by civil society groups and the EU Delegation.

The EU Delegation praised agreements to amend laws on internal affairs and national security, strengthen judicial oversight, form a dedicated parliamentary monitoring group, appoint Constitutional Court judges, and advance electoral reforms by consensus.

These measures aim to build trust, overcome the parliamentary crisis, and accelerate Montenegro’s EU integration path ahead of the 2027 elections through inclusive political dialogue.

Joint statement following today's meeting of representatives of the parliamentary majority and the opposition.🇪🇺🇲🇪👇 pic.twitter.com/t8n99auBux
— EU in Montenegro 🇪🇺 (@EUAmbME) July 5, 2026

Key elements of the reforms

The proposed changes focus primarily on strengthening judicial independence, a core EU requirement. Specifically:

The Minister of Justice will no longer be a member of the Judicial Council.
The majority of the Council’s members will consist of judges elected by their peers.
Similar reforms are envisaged for the Prosecutorial Council to reduce political influence.

These amendments address long-standing recommendations from the European Commission, the Venice Commission, and GRECO (the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body). They form part of Montenegro’s Reform Agenda 2024–2027 and are tied to the EU’s Instrument for Reform and Growth.

Additional elements include improvements to security sector legislation, continuation of electoral reforms, and commitments to dialogue on other systemic laws, such as the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship.

Why this matters for Montenegro’s EU path

Judicial independence and the rule of law are foundational pillars of EU membership. Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security) are among the most critical and demanding in the accession negotiations. The constitutional changes directly tackle key benchmarks in these chapters by depoliticizing the judiciary and aligning Montenegro’s institutions with European standards.

This agreement is seen as essential for:

Closing the remaining negotiation chapters (Montenegro aims to finalize talks by the end of 2026 and join as the 28th EU member by 2028).
Demonstrating the political consensus and institutional stability required for EU accession.
Building on recent progress, such as the provisional closure of additional chapters and positive assessments of interim benchmarks in Chapters 23 and 24.

The European Movement in Montenegro praised the deal as proof that “when there is political will and responsibility, it is possible to find a compromise even on the most sensitive political issues.” It highlighted that both sides showed “democratic maturity” by prioritizing the national interest and the EU perspective over partisan differences. The Movement described European integration as “a joint state project that requires responsibility, mutual respect, and readiness for compromise.”

This was a huge achievement and it will push the process into a faster gear,” Momčilo Radulović, President of the European Movement, told EUalive.

EU officials have also welcomed the joint statement from the parliamentary majority and opposition, viewing it as a positive development that strengthens Montenegro’s European future.

Broader political impact

By resolving a major point of contention that had stalled reforms, the agreement ends a period of political obstruction. Analysts and politicians, including former officials, have called the changes a “win-win” for Montenegro, opening the door to faster progress on nearly 100 pending legal solutions needed for EU integration.

In the broader Western Balkans context, where geopolitical challenges persist, this consensus helps protect reform momentum and reinforces Montenegro’s position as one of the frontrunners in the enlargement process.

The parliament is expected to proceed with the necessary votes in the coming days, with broad cross-party support anticipated for the required two-thirds majority on constitutional matters.

This agreement represents more than technical legal tweaks – it is a powerful affirmation that Montenegro is ready to meet the high standards of EU membership through dialogue, compromise, and shared commitment to the rule of law.

With AntenaM, RTGC

Caption: Illustrative photo. The Parliament of Montenegro [Website of the Parliament of Montenegro]