Montenegro
Montenegro takes legislative lead on cross-border energy infrastructure reform
Montenegro becomes the first Energy Community Contracting Party to transpose the TEN-E Regulation, a legislative achievement that supports integrated and interconnected energy systems, strengthening energy security, and fostering market competition across the Energy Community region.
On Friday, 27 February 2026, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Projects, thereby becoming the first Energy Community Contracting Party to transpose Regulation (EU) 2022/869 on Guidelines for Trans-European Energy Infrastructure (TEN-E Regulation).
This is expected to promote both energy market and system integration across the Energy Community region by establishing a framework for the development of trans-European energy infrastructure. Such cross-border energy infrastructure helps connect markets, strengthen energy security and boost competition, ultimately delivering more stable and affordable energy prices for households and businesses across the Energy Community region.
While the law transposes the main elements of the TEN-E framework, specific provisions related to the permit-granting process, the manual of procedures, public participation and transparency for cross-border energy infrastructure projects will be further specified by the Ministry within six months following its adoption. The Energy Community Secretariat, which supported Montenegro throughout the drafting process, welcomes this achievement and looks forward to further progress by other Contracting Parties in transposing the Regulation, as well as to Montenegro’s effective implementation of its new framework.
This represents Montenegro’s second major legislative milestone in just one month towards deeper regional and EU energy market integration. Earlier in February, Montenegro became the third Contracting Party to transpose the Electricity Integration Package. On March 3rd, the Energy Community Secretariat formally initiated the compliance verification process, marking the start of the technical assessment required to advance towards electricity market coupling with the EU prior to accession, subject to subsequent verification by the European Commission. The Secretariat now has three months to complete its assessment.