"It is good that Montenegro, according to the statement of the President of the European Council Antonio Costa, has gone the furthest in the accession process towards EU membership and that it has broad support of its citizens on this path. The Montenegrin authorities must continue to work persistently on fulfilling the criteria for membership such as the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organised crime, freedom of the media, minority rights, gender equality, relations with neighbours and alignment with the EU's foreign and security policy." Nikola Dobroslavić, Prefect of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and Co-Chair of the JCC CoR–Montenegro made these remarks during the constitutive meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) between the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and Montenegro.
This newly established body reflects the CoR's continued commitment to inclusive and multi-level governance in the enlargement process, and offers an institutional platform for structured dialogue between local and regional authorities in the EU and Montenegro. During the meeting Dobroslavić was officially appointed as Co-Chair of the JCC CoR–Montenegro.
Gregor Macedoni, Mayor of Novo Mesto and EPP-CoR member of the JCC said “I am encouraged by the political consensus that exists within Montenegro on the need to move forward with the accession process. We must ensure we make good use of this momentum and political will. We can see that progress is being made at the local level and that citizens are embracing the values which the European Union represents. “I am also encouraged to see political stability on the local government level in Montenegro. However, the EU should recognise that despite being a small country, there are huge variations within the country. By channelling EU funds directly to the LRAs, we can better support them and ensure that they are better tailored to the specific needs of each municipality.”
Adoption of the 2025–2030 Work Programme
During the meeting, the JCC adopted its first Work Programme for 2025–2030, outlining a strategic and inclusive vision for Montenegro’s local and regional authorities (LRAs) as active agents in the EU accession journey.
Key political priorities include supporting the rule of law, media freedom, gender equality, and regional cooperation; promoting democracy and good governance at the local level; and ensuring subsidiarity and multilevel governance are respected throughout the accession process.
Core topics which will be covered include:
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- Local democracy and good governance
- Energy security and environmental protection
- Local economic development and competitiveness
- Demographic and social resilience
- Cross-border cooperation and reconciliation
- Localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The JCC will meet twice annually—once in Brussels during Enlargement Day and once in Montenegro—and will serve as a venue to review the state of negotiations, exchange best practices, and propose thematic debates relevant to local governance. The JCC will actively engage with EU institutions, UN bodies, regional cooperation platforms, and civil society to promote shared objectives and enhance Montenegro’s alignment with the EU acquis. This Work Programme reflects the COR's conviction that successful enlargement must be built on a foundation of resilient, well-governed, and empowered local communities.
Enlargement days
The meeting took place as part of the CoR's 10th Enlargement Days. Organized in cooperation with the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, this event celebrates the European Union’s expansion and the integration of new member states. High-level discussions and policy debates with a strong focus on the local and regional impact of enlargement are taking place. Representatives from municipalities, regional authorities and other stakeholders came together to share their experiences and insights.