EU member states have agreed to open two new negotiation chapters for Albania’s EU accession, as well as close three chapters with Montenegro, the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council announced on Friday.
This will take place during intergovernmental conferences between the EU and Montenegro on December 16, and with Albania the following day.
The Hungarian presidency added that EU ambassadors have approved the joint EU position to open Chapters 30 and 31 in the negotiations with Albania, as well as to close Chapters 7, 10, and 20 in the negotiations with Montenegro.
Montenegro had hoped to close four chapters, but Croatia blocked the closure of Chapter 31, which pertains to foreign policy, security, and defense.
Earlier, Radio Free Europe reported, citing sources in Brussels, that at the next intergovernmental conference, Montenegro is likely to close three chapters in its EU accession talks.
On Friday afternoon, a meeting of EU member state ambassadors took place, where participants were expected to agree on the final conclusions regarding enlargement and decide on the number of chapters that Montenegro would close, as well as those that Albania would open next week.
The approval of all EU member states is required for the opening or closing of any chapter.
Chapter 30 for Albania relates to external relations, while Chapter 31 concerns foreign policy, security, and defense.
In October, Albania opened the first chapter of its EU accession negotiations.
The opening of chapters for Albania comes after a long wait, as the country applied for membership in 2009 and was granted candidate status in 2014.
Meanwhile, Montenegro will temporarily close Chapter 7, intellectual property rights; Chapter 10, information society and media; and Chapter 20, business and industry policies.
Montenegro has opened all negotiation chapters and will temporarily close three, after starting its EU accession talks in 2012.
After several years of stagnation, Montenegro resumed negotiations in June this year, and next week will close three more chapters. /REL/
