Croatia Erased Montenegro’s Deadline From EU Conclusions: Eight Conditions, the Morinj Camp and a Disrupted Plan to Close Talks by the End of 2026
After Plenković’s intervention, the two significant passages setting a timeline for Montenegro’s accession were removed from the European Council conclusions; Croatia wants a solution to eight open issues.
EU leaders on October 16, after an intervention by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, removed from the European Council conclusions on enlargement the two significant passages setting a timeline for Montenegro’s accession, New Union Post writes. Plenković said he wanted to send a “clear, realistic message” that open issues must be resolved before dates are set. Montenegro’s aim is to close all chapters by the end of 2026.
Croatia’s eight points: six in Chapter 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) — three on the Morinj camp, which operated until August 1992 and held about 300 Croatian prisoners (compensation, a memorial plaque and renaming a swimming pool in Kotor), and another three on prosecuting war crimes, property rights of Croats and the fate of 14 missing persons; and two in Chapter 31 — demarcation of Prevlaka and ownership of the training ship “Jadran.” Plenković said Montenegro “has yet to make any progress” on any of the points.
On the other side, Germany, according to Euronews (via Kurir), is the most active in trying to resolve the Croatian demands and urges Zagreb not to slow accession, fearing a blockade of the most advanced candidate could derail enlargement policy as a whole. Merz offered mediation, but it has not been carried out. Kaja Kallas warned that enlargement must not become “bilateral.” Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said on October 12 he was sure compromises would be found. All 33 screened chapters are open and 21 are provisionally closed. The sources we checked contain nothing on what this means for the other candidates.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 17, 2026
