The European Commission's 2026 Rule of Law Report, published on 22 July 2026, assesses Montenegro's progress in justice, anti-corruption, media freedom, and institutional checks and balances, noting advances but persistent challenges. The country chapter accompanies the Commission's annual communication on the rule of law situation in the European Union.
Montenegro is implementing its 2024-2027 Judicial Reform Strategy, with a new Action Plan for 2026-2027 adopted in March 2026. Constitutional amendments to strengthen the independence of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils were adopted by the Government on 19 February 2026. A temporary 30% salary increase for judges and prosecutors has been extended until December 2026. However, perceived judicial independence among the general public remains very low at 26%, though it has risen to an average level among companies (52%). Court efficiency shows mixed results: the clearance rate for first-instance administrative cases improved to 109% in 2024, but dropped to 48% in second-instance cases, while disposition times remain very high at 879 and 907 days respectively.
On anti-corruption, implementation of the 2024-2028 strategy and its 2026-2027 action plan is ongoing. A new full-term Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption has been appointed, and the number of final rulings and convictions in high-level corruption cases has increased. However, the legal framework for political party funding still needs alignment with OSCE/ODIHR and GRECO recommendations.
In the media and institutional sphere, the Councils of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services and Radio Television of Montenegro have been restored to full composition. New amendments to the Law on Free Access to Information were adopted in December 2025. Two judges were appointed to the Constitutional Court, improving its functioning, but full composition remains to be achieved. The Government is finalising a new law on the Ombudsperson’s Office to align with the Paris Principles.
The report's findings carry implications for several stakeholders. Montenegrin citizens stand to benefit from improved judicial efficiency and anti-corruption efforts, but the very low public trust in the judiciary indicates that reforms have yet to translate into tangible improvements. The business community, which now perceives judicial independence as average, may gain from a more predictable legal environment, though high disposition times in civil and commercial cases remain a concern. EU institutions will use the report to calibrate accession negotiations, with progress in rule of law being a key benchmark. The Montenegrin government faces pressure to complete constitutional reforms and fully staff the Constitutional Court, while also addressing media transparency and political funding rules. The report does not set new deadlines but reinforces existing expectations under the EU accession framework. The European Commission will continue to monitor implementation, and the Council is expected to discuss the findings in the coming months.