30/06/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 27 June, Montenegro officially closed Chapter 5 of the European Union acquis, on “public procurement”, at the end of an accession conference held in the late afternoon. “This marks the seventh negotiating chapter closed - a meaningful step forward on Montenegro’s path towards European integration”, said Polish Minister for European Affairs Adam Szłapka on behalf of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. Montenegro and Albania are currently leading the race among the candidate countries for accession, with Tirana hoping to join the Union by 2030 (see EUROPE13636/7). The leaders of the Western Balkans - Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro - are meeting in Skopje on Monday 30 June and Tuesday 1 July for a summit also attended by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. (IS)