EU accession dominates Montenegro’s political and economic agenda at the moment, according to Vujacic Law Office Partner Sasa Vujacic, who stresses that the country is experiencing a level of momentum not seen in years. Beyond the technical progress on negotiation chapters, he notes that access to new EU funds and a markedly positive cost-of-accession outlook are shaping both policy priorities and market expectations.
"Montenegro is firmly on a stable path toward EU accession, and for the first time in years, there is a genuine sense of momentum," Vujacic begins. "Access to new EU funds has opened, supporting infrastructure and a range of other sectors, and we are very pleased to be able to draw from these instruments. Interestingly, cost-per-capita calculations for Montenegro’s membership show that it would amount to just EUR 0.27 per existing EU citizen, which is remarkably low compared to regional peers. Politically and technically, accession remains a top national priority."
Moreover, Vujacic reports that, at the moment, "the first 12 negotiation chapters are close to being finalized, while chapters 15 through 18 are expected to wind down next year. If this pace holds, 2026 could realistically see the completion of all negotiation chapters, which would be a very clear signal to Member States that Montenegro is ready to join as a fully fledged, equal member."
Assuming negotiations close in 2026, the timeline businesses should expect for actual accession is not long at all. "The period between 2027 and 2028 will likely be devoted to completing the formal paperwork between the EU and each Member State," Vujacic says. That puts Montenegro on track to join before the end of the decade. "Of course, this process sits alongside a steady harmonization of domestic legislation with the acquis. Passing EU-aligned laws is one step, but embedding them into the wider legal system and ensuring that citizens and businesses understand their practical impact is equally important."
In this regard, Vujacic especially underlines digitalization as an area of growing importance for the legal system as a whole. He notes that the modernization of administrative and judicial processes has been a recurring theme throughout Montenegro’s EU alignment efforts, and the expectation is that these reforms will gradually reduce bottlenecks, improve transparency, and streamline everyday legal work. “We are eagerly awaiting reforms that will simplify day-to-day procedures for lawyers and improve access to justice for citizens,” he says, adding that digital transformation stands to surpass one-off measures and should, instead, "be a series of incremental steps that will unfold over several years."
While many of the upcoming solutions are still in development, Vujacic highlights that a concrete early milestone is anticipated in early 2026, when electronic LTD incorporation should become available. “It’s an important signal of where the system is heading,” he posits, emphasizing that digital tools, once fully rolled out, should ease procedural burdens, reduce waiting times, and make the legal environment more predictable for both practitioners and businesses.
Finally, Vujacic stresses the importance of the fact that Montenegro has long had deep ties with EU countries. "The connection is very strong," he says. "Almost 1 in 3 Montenegrins live and work in EU Member States, mostly in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia." He believes that this puts the country on a strong foundation to have an ultimate accession path similar to other Balkan countries. "As Montenegro approaches membership, we expect a process very much akin to what Romania and Bulgaria experienced: a gradual but steady integration of institutions, judicial practices, and administrative systems."
