Montenegro has successfully integrated the Electricity Integration Package into its national legislation, marking a significant advancement in its energy market reform efforts. This legislative development aligns Montenegro’s regulatory framework with contemporary European market rules, facilitating the country’s path towards participation in the EU’s Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC) and Single Intraday Coupling (SIDC) mechanisms, even before formal EU membership is achieved. The next phase involves compliance verification by both the Energy Community Secretariat and the European Commission, a process that is currently underway.
The completion of this legislative process occurred on 15 February, with the adoption of two critical government decrees that establish comprehensive regulations for system operation, emergency procedures, and restoration measures. These legal instruments are designed to complement the existing Energy Law and recent legislation regarding cross-border electricity and natural gas exchanges. Officials assert that this new regulatory framework aims to deliver clearer investment signals, enhance regional integration, foster fair competition, and bolster supply security across the energy sector.
This milestone positions Montenegro as the third contracting party within the Energy Community to fully adopt the Electricity Integration Package, following similar completions by Serbia and Moldova, which finalized their processes last year. Serbia is presently undergoing a verification stage. The Energy Community Secretariat has expressed its commitment to assist Montenegro in implementing this updated legal framework, which is deemed vital for accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources and modernizing the national power infrastructure.
<pMontenegrin officials view this accomplishment as an indicator of the country's readiness for deeper integration into both regional and European electricity markets. This integration is supported by a transparent and stable regulatory environment aimed at ensuring competitiveness, sustainability, and a reliable energy supply for all stakeholders involved.
