Accession is coming. Well prepared, it becomes an opportunity.
Montenegro aims to conclude negotiations by the end of 2026 and to become a member of the European Union in 2028. For hotels and restaurants this brings new obligations and new opportunities. We show both and tell you where to start today.
Anticipation and vigilance
The hoteliers we spoke with in October 2026 look forward to accession and remain watchful.
Many hoteliers view the directives from Brussels critically, because they mean change, effort and cost.
We take this tension seriously. Our answer is preparation in stages: first what has to be invested anyway, combined with the funding routes that are already open today.
What lies ahead for hotels and restaurants
The basis is the negotiating chapters and the EU regulations and directives that Montenegro adopts.
New obligations
- Food safety, chapter 12EU hygiene in kitchen and purchasing, HACCP, labelling of the 14 allergens.
- Employment law, chapter 19Eleven hours of rest, an average working week of at most 48 hours, a written contract before the first working day. The chapter has been provisionally closed since 12 October 2026.
- Environment, chapter 27Waste water, waste, building on the coast. For many properties the most expensive adjustment.
- Taxation, chapter 16Alignment of VAT and excise duties.
- Consumer protection, chapter 28Final prices including tourist tax, uniform rules on cancellation.
New opportunities
- Structural funds, chapter 22Grants for investments after accession. In Croatia, 16 new hotels received around 46 million euros in grants on around 100 million euros of investment (Lider, 18.2.2024).
- Free movement of capital, chapter 4More security for investors from the EU and more capital for hotel projects.
- Skilled staffEasier access for professionals from the European Economic Area, from accession onwards.
- New guestsGuests from northern and western Europe who expect familiar standards and trust them.
- Already todayEU funds through banks, the Eko-Fond and IPARD, long before the structural funds. See the funding guide.
From negotiations to structural funds
Provisionally closed means that a chapter becomes final only once agreement is reached on all chapters. The structural funds open only after accession. Until then, EU money arrives through banks, national programmes and IPARD.
Council of the EU; Government of Montenegro; our own assessment on the structural fundsWorking group for the accession treaty set up
All 33 chapters opened
21 of 33 chapters provisionally closed
Twelve remain open, among them food safety, taxation, environment, and judiciary and fundamental rights.
Target: conclusion of negotiations
Target: membership
First structural fund calls
Our assessment, depending on the date of accession.
Six steps for the next twelve months
Each of these steps pays off regardless of the accession date, because it lowers costs, convinces guests or makes funding possible.
- Kitchen: HACCP concept and allergen labelling on the menu.
- Staff: written contracts and rosters with rest periods.
- Prices: final prices including tourist tax and clear cancellation rules, the same on every channel.
- Energy and building: plan measures and combine them with the Eko-Fond hotel programme.
- Waste water and waste: record the current state in the property before the requirements arrive.
- Figures: arrange accounts and key figures so that the bank and the funding body can read them.
Hotels on the road to the EU
A webinar with a checklist for hoteliers and restaurateurs, planned for winter 2026/27. Subscribers to the market letter hear the date first.
You will first receive an email with a confirmation link. Only then are you subscribed.