The Irish Presidency of the European Union has agreed with Montenegro to open and provisionally the second chapter in the Balkan country’s negotiations under its EU accession process.

This chapter covers, inter alia, EU flagship programmes, such as Erasmus Mundus, Tempus and Youth in Action, and the future Creative Europe.

“The Irish Presidency is delighted to have opened and provisionally closed Chapter 26 on Education and Culture with Montenegro today, the second chapter to have been opened and provisionally closed since Montenegro began its negotiations in June 2012,” declared Rory Montgomery, Permanent. Representative of Ireland to the European Union.

“This event is a positive reflection of the effort that Montenegro has been putting into the process. We expect to see this work continuing and intensifying, particularly in areas of core importance to the process, especially the chapters on judiciary and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom and security.

The first meeting of the accession conference with Montenegro at deputy level was held on Monday in Brussels. The next accession conference is scheduled for June.