Montenegro is set to enter the second transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) agreement following progress in aligning its aviation sector with European Union standards. Filip Cornelis, Director for Aviation at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, said a formal decision on Montenegro’s advancement would be proposed shortly. The announcement was made following a meeting of the ECAA Joint Committee in Brussels this week. The Director of Montenegro’s Civil Aviation Agency, Ivan Šćekić, described the development as a significant achievement for the country. However, Montenegro has not formally entered the second phase yet, with the European Commission still required to propose and adopt the relevant decision.

The second transitional phase provides for deeper integration into the European aviation market and an expansion of traffic rights. Montenegrin carriers will be permitted to carry passengers between two EU member states, provided the flight forms part of a service serving Montenegro, while EU airlines will gain equivalent rights between Montenegro and other ECAA partner countries. During this phase, Montenegro will be required to complete the implementation of the ECAA agreement and all relevant EU aviation legislation before achieving full integration into the common aviation area.