EU outlines AHWP structure in Montenegro accession talks - EXCLUSIVE

No specific timeline can be set for the work of Ad Hoc Working Party (AHWP) on Drafting the Accession Treaty with Montenegro. Its mandate clearly states that it will cease to exist when the work on the Accession Treaty with Montenegro and related acts have been finalised.

This was said by a source in the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union in an exclusive interview with CE Report.

"The structure of the AHWP is exactly the same as for all the Council preparatory bodies: it will be chaired by the rotating presidency and will be composed of national experts/delegates from all 27 member states," the statement reads.

The source noted that the AHWP’s work will start as a matter of priority with the necessary technical adaptations to the EU acquis, to be followed by the drafting of the Accession Treaty with Montenegro, based on further guidance by COREPER, in close collaboration with the Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA WP) and without prejudice to the work of other relevant Council preparatory bodies.

In conclusion, the Council has reaffirmed its support for Montenegro’s continued progress on its European path and looks forward to provisionally closing further negotiating chapters when conditions are met.

This interview was prepared by Julian Müller