(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 06 NOV - Today, the European Union and Montenegro provisionally closed two more accession negotiation chapters: Chapter 1 (free movement of goods) and Chapter 12 (food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policy). The decision was formalised at the 30th EU-Montenegro Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels. This step brings the total number of provisionally closed chapters in the accession negotiations to 23 out of 33. Montenegro, which began talks with the EU in June 2012, is the candidate country that has made the most progress towards European integration. "With 23 negotiation chapters now provisionally closed, Montenegro is making significant progress towards completing all remaining chapters," stated Thomas Byrne, Ireland's Minister for European Affairs and Defence, speaking on behalf of the EU Council Presidency. "Enlargement," he stated, "is a geopolitical necessity for the EU, and the Irish Presidency is prioritising this goal." (ANSA).