Montenegro has strengthened its position as the leading reform performer in the Western Balkans after the European Union confirmed continued progress in implementing reforms tied to the EU Growth Plan.
According to the Montenegrin government, the country has so far secured €44.2 million through the latest tranche of the Reform and Growth Facility, following a positive assessment by the European Commission. The funds are linked directly to reforms in areas such as innovation, research, governance, and institutional modernization.
Authorities in Podgorica emphasized that Montenegro remains the most advanced EU candidate country in the region, arguing that the latest approval represents both political recognition and financial support for the reform process. The government stated that the broader Growth Plan framework allocates a total of €383.5 million to Montenegro for the 2024–2027 period, combining grants and concessional loans.
Of that amount, around €178.5 million is intended as direct budget support, while approximately €205 million is planned for infrastructure and development projects through the Western Balkans Investment Framework.
The European Commission recently assessed reforms related to strengthening the innovation ecosystem, support for scientific research, and improving competitiveness, concluding that Montenegro had met the required benchmarks for the latest payment request.
Montenegro has also repeatedly highlighted its broader reform performance under the agenda. Earlier this year, officials announced that more than half of the planned reform measures had already been implemented, with 24 out of 45 reform steps fully completed.
The latest developments come at a time when Montenegro is accelerating its broader European integration efforts. The country is widely viewed as the frontrunner among Western Balkan candidates, with EU institutions recently moving into the next phase of accession preparations, including work related to drafting an accession treaty.
Government representatives argue that the combination of financial support and reform implementation is beginning to produce concrete economic and institutional benefits, while also improving investor confidence and strengthening Montenegro’s position within the EU enlargement process.
