Montenegro officially applied to join the EU on 15 December 2008. On 23 April 2009, the Council invited the European Commission to submit its opinion on the application. The Commission presented Montenegro with a questionnaire to assess its application on 22 July 2009. On 9 December 2009, Montenegro delivered its answers to the EC questionnaire. On 1 May 2010, the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Montenegro and the European Union came into force, after all the 27 member-states of EU had ratified the SAA. The European Commission on 9 November 2010 recommended Montenegro as candidate country. This candidate status was officially granted on 17 December 2010.

On 12 October 2011 Commission recommends starting of negotiation process for Montenegro. European Council sets a target date of 29 June for the beginning of accession negotiations.

There are two main roles of Official Statistics:

·      Harmonization of the Chapter 18-Statistics, with the international standards and methodology.

·       Providing data to the users, which are used for monitoring of the progress in implementation of policies by specific areas

In negotiations process MONSTAT have a key role, which is not be reflected only in Chapter 18 - Statistics. It is very important to point out the importance of official statistics and role of MONSTAT in the process of negotiations because of his overall importance for a big number of other Chapters.

The process of Montenegro's accession to the European Union is monitored via two reports:

·         Progress Report - Chapter 18 – Statistics

·         Report on the implementation of obligations under the Stabilization and Association Agreement

Date

Event

15 October 2007

Montenegro signs the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

15 December 2008

Formal application for membership submitted.

12 April 2010

Montenegro submits answers to the Commission's Questionnaire.

9 November 2010

European Commission replies to the answers of the Questionnaire with a positive opinion (Avis).

17 December 2010

Montenegro receives official candidate status.

12 October 2011

Commission recommends starting of negotiations.

26 March 2012

Screening started.

26 June 2012

European Council sets a target date of 29 June for the beginning of accession negotiations.

29 June 2012

Accession negotiations begin.