Chapter 19 Provisionally Closed Ahead of Schedule

Montenegro today provisionally closed negotiating Chapter 19 – Social Policy and Employment at the Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg, ahead of the originally planned deadline in December. All three closing benchmarks were met during the negotiating process, along with alignment with 58 European directives and the preparation of more than 70 documents. The result is the product of the work of Montenegro’s negotiating team and the expert services of the relevant institutions. Negotiating activities were coordinated by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, headed by Minister Damir Gutić. The Chapter 19 working group consists of 33 representatives of institutions, social partners and civil society, and is led by Anita Bilafer Mihaljević. This day represents an important step toward Montenegro’s membership in the European Union and confirms the dedicated work and joint efforts of our institutions in the European integration process. The provisional closure of Chapter 19 confirms that the reforms implemented and alignment with European standards provide the foundation for improving the social protection system and creating a society in which solidarity, equality and the dignity of every individual come first, Minister Damir Gutić said.