Montenegrin society is characterised by a general climate of tolerance, a good legal anti-discrimination framework has been set up and very welcome progress has been made on resolving the issue of displaced persons who arrived in Montenegro from Kosovo* in the late 90s. However, urgent efforts are needed to advance the social and economic situation of Roma and Egyptians, including through improving school attendance among them. Besides, the subject of civic education must be reintroduced in the compulsory curriculum and other measures taken to promote intercultural understanding at schools.
These are among the key findings of the new Opinion on Montenegro published today by the Council of Europe’s body, the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM). The opinion covering the period from June 2013 to March 2019, was published together with the Government’s comments. See also the Opinion in Albanian and Roma languages as well as the Government’s comments in Albanian and Roma.
Montenegro recognises Albanian, Bosniak, Croat, Muslim, Roma and Serb national minorities. The Council of Europe’s Committee praises Montenegro for its “constructive and positive approach to the application of the Framework Convention”. It notes, however, that preferential treatment offered by the electoral legislation to numerically small national minorities to ensure their political representation, specifically lowered thresholds, has not been extended to Roma.
* All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
