Montenegro Facts

Montenegro Facts
Government Guide Series
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Fact sheet December 2010 · Government
STATE SYSTEM OF MONTENEGRO
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY
PRESIDENT OF
MONTENEGRO
The Head of State. Represents
Montenegro in the country
and abroad and commands
the armed forces in
accordance with the decisions
of the Defence and Security
Council.
GOVERNMENT OF
MONTENEGRO
The executive branch of
the State. It manages the
country’s internal and foreign
policy and implements
regulations. The Prime
Minister is elected by the
Parliament at the proposal of
the President of Montenegro.
The Parliament approves
the Prime Minister’s agenda
and the composition of his/
her Cabinet. The current
government comprises 16
ministries.
PARLIAMENT OF
MONTENEGRO
The Montenegrin Parliament is
a single-chamber legislature.
It adopts the Constitution,
passes laws, approves the
State budget and elects the
Prime Minister. There are 81
seats in the Parliament. The
ruling coalition currently holds
48 seats.
SUPREME COURT
The highest judicial authority
in Montenegro. It ensures
uniform application of laws by
all courts. The president of the
Supreme Court is appointed
and removed from office by
the Parliament. The Supreme
Court president is also the
president of the Judicial
Council.
LOCAL SELF
GOVERNMENTS
Municipalities are the
basic forms of local selfgovernment in Montenegro.
They are administered by
mayors/municipal presidents
and municipal assemblies.
The country is divided in 21
municipalities, including the
capital, Podgorica, and the
royal capital, Cetinje, and the
two town municipalities of
Podgorica.
PUBLIC PROSECUTION
OFFICE
An independent authority in
charge of conducting criminal
prosecution in relation to all
indictable offences. Public
prosecutors are appointed by
the Prosecution Council for
five-year terms. The Supreme
Public Prosecutor is appointed
by the Parliament.
CENTRAL BANK
An independent institution
responsible for monetary and
fiscal stability and functioning
of the banking system. It is
managed by the Governor and
controlled by the Council of
the Central Bank.
JUDICIAL COUNCIL
An independent authority that
appoints and removes judges,
court presidents and lay
judges and safeguards their
independence and autonomy.
It comprises four members of
the Conference of Judges, two
MPs, two reputable lawyers
and the Minister of Justice.
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
Decides on the conformity of
laws and other regulations
with the Constitution and
ratified international treaties.
Rules on constitutional
complaints against breaches
of the human rights
enshrined in the Constitution.
Constitutional Court judges
are nominated by the
President of Montenegro and
appointed and removed by the
Parliament.
THE ELECTORATE
STATE AUDIT INSTITUTION
An independent state body
reviewing the management of
the financial affairs of publicly
financed bodies.
It is managed by the Senate of
the State Audit Institution. The
chairman and members of the
Senate are appointed by the
Parliament.
OMBUDSMAN
An independent and
autonomous authority
safeguarding human
rights and freedoms. The
Ombudsman is nominated by
the President and appointed
by the Parliament for a term of
six years.
Fact sheet December 2010 · Government
│1
Montenegro in Brief
Official name:
Area:
Population:
Border length:
Land area:
Coastline:
Climate:
Average number
of sunny days:
Average air
temperature:
Capital:
Royal capital:
Montenegro
13,812 km2
620,145 (2003 census)
614 km
13,812 km2
293 km
Mediterranean
8%
5%
4%
8%
Main religions:
Orthodox Christianity,
Islam, Roman
Catholicism
180
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:
27.4° C in summer,
13.4° C in winter
Podgorica (population
of 173,000) –
administrative and
economic centre
Cetinje – historical and
cultural centre
Form of government: Parliamentary republic
Official language:
Montenegrin; Serbian,
Bosnian, Albanian and
Croatian are also in
official use.
Literacy rate:
97.5%
ETHNIC COMPOSITION:
Montenegrins
Serbs
Bosniaks
Albanians
Muslims
Other
43%
32%
Independence Day – 21 May
Statehood Day – 13 July
OTHER PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
New Year’s Day – 1 January
Labour Day – 1 May
BASIC ECONOMIC FACTS
GDP:
EUR 3.003 billion
(2009 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.9% (2008);
5.3% (2009)
GDP per capita:
EUR 4,779 (2009)
Unemployment rate: 11.6% (2009)
Inflation:
1.5% (2009)
Official Currency:
Euro
Major industries:
Tourism, aluminium
production, steel
production, agriculture
2│
Fact sheet December 2010 · Government
President of Montenegro
The President is the Head of State on whom the
Constitution confers the power to:
- represent Montenegro within the country and
abroad;
- command the military on the basis of the
decisions of the Defence and Security Council;
- proclaim laws by ordinance;
- call parliamentary elections;
- propose to the Parliament: the candidate for
prime minister, after consultations with the
representatives of the political parties represented
in the Parliament; the Constitutional Court
President and judges; and the Ombudsman;
- appoint and revoke Montenegrin ambassadors
and heads of diplomatic missions abroad, at the
proposal of the Government and after obtaining
the opinion of the Parliamentary Committee
responsible for international relations;
- accept letters of accreditation and recall of
Plavi dvorac (The Blue Palace), the presidential residence
foreign diplomats;
- award medals and honours of Montenegro;
- grant amnesty; and
- perform other responsibilities stipulated by the
Constitution or the law.
The President is elected for a five-year term in
direct, general elections, by secret ballot.
Every citizen of Montenegro residing in the country
for no less than 10 years in the past 15 years is eligible to
run for President. The President may serve а maximum
of two Presidential terms.
The President is also a member of the Supreme
Defence Council.
The current President of Montenegro, Mr Filip
Vujanovic, was elected on 6 April 2008 and formally
inaugurated on 20 May 2008.
The official residence of the President is located in
the royal capital of Cetinje.
Fact sheet December 2010 · Government
│3
Parliament of Montenegro
The Montenegrin Parliament is a single-chamber
legislature. MPs are elected by universal suffrage,
through a direct and secret ballot, for a period of 4
years.
The Parliament adopts the Constitution, passes laws
and secondary legislation, approves the State budget,
appoints and removes the Prime Minister and cabinet
members and ratifies international treaties.
In the March 2009 elections, the ‘European
Montenegro’ coalition (Democratic Party of Socialists
– DPS, Social Democratic Party – SDP, Bosniak Party –
BS and Croatian Civic Initiative - HGI) won 48 seats in
the 81-seat Parliament.
As for the opposition, the Socialist People’s Party –
SNP holds 16, New Serbian Democracy – NOVA 8 and
Movement for Changes – PzP 5 seats.
Four ethnic Albanian parties/coalitions: UDSH
– DUA, FORCA, The Albanian List – Democratic
Alliance in Montenegro and Albanian Coalition –
Perspective (AKP) hold one seat each.
The current speaker of the Parliament is Mr. Ranko
Krivokapic, leader of the Social Democratic Party,
and deputy speakers are Mr. Zeljko Sturanovic, VicePresident of the DPS, and Mr. Rifat Rastoder of the
SDP.
DPS DPS DPS DPS DPS DPS
SDP SDP SDP DPS
HGI
S
S
S
S
S
S
SNP
NOVA
SNP
SNP
SNP
SNP
SNP
SNP
SNP
SNP
SNP
SNP
SECRE- SPEAKER DEPUTY DEPUTY
SPEAKER SPEAKER
TARY
GENERAL
SDP DPS SDP
COMPOSITION OF THE PARLIAMENT
S
NOVA
SNP
DP
NOVA
SNP
S
DP
SNP
SNP
S
DP
SNP
S
DP
S
DP
NOVA
DP
S
BS
S
DP
H
NOVA
NOVA
DP
DP
S
P
Pz
S
UD
S
DP
P
Pz
NOVA
DP
S
BS
AL
P
NOVA
DP
A
DP
RC
S
FO
SDP DPS DPS
BS
S
DP
zP
DP
DP
Pz
S
S
DP
SDP SDP SDP DPS
S
DP
DP
P
P
AK
DP
S
DP
P
Pz
DP
S
S
DP
DP
4│
Fact sheet December 2010 · Government
Government of Montenegro
The current Montenegrin Government under Prime
Minister Igor Luksic was voted in on 29 December
2010, following the retirement of Milo Djukanovic’s
Government which was formed after the 29 March 2009
parliamentary elections.
The new Prime Minister performed a substantial
reshuffle of his predecessor’s Cabinet. Five new ministers
have been introduced into the Cabinet, the Ministry
for European Integration has been merged with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a new Ministry of
Science established to advance Montenegro’s research and
development capabilities.
The Government is backed by 48 out of 81 MPs. It is a
coalition government consisting of five political parties: the
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Social Democratic
Party (SDP), Bosniak Party (BS), Croatian Civic Initiative
(HGI) and Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA).
According to the Constitution, the Government of
Montenegro, as the executive branch of the State, has the
power to:
- manage the internal and foreign policy of Montenegro;
- enforce laws, other regulations and general acts;
- adopt decrees, decisions and other regulations for the
enforcement of laws;
- sign international agreements;
- propose the Development Plan and Spatial Plan of
Montenegro;
- propose the Budget and the Final Statement of the
Budget;
- propose the National Security Strategy and Defence
Strategy;
- decide on the recognition of states and establishment
of diplomatic and consular relations with other states;
- nominate ambassadors and heads of diplomatic
missions abroad; and
- perform other responsibilities stipulated by the
constitution or the law.
The Cabinet is proposed by the Prime Minister
Designate, who is nominated by the President, and is voted
in by a simple majority vote in the Parliament.
THE CABINET
Prime Minister
Igor Luksic, PhD
DPS
Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Foreign and Interior Policy and Minister of Justice
Dusko Markovic
DPS
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System and Minister for Information
Society and Telecommunications
Vujica Lazovic, PhD
Minister of the Interior
Minister of Defence
Ivan Brajovic
Boro Vucinic
SDP
DPS
Minister of Finance
Milorad Katnic, PhD
DPS
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
Milan Rocen
DPS
Minister of Education and Sports
Slavoljub Stijepovic
DPS
Minister of Culture
Branislav Micunovic
DPS
Minister of Economy
Vladimir Kavaric, PhD
DPS
Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs
Andrija Lompar, PhD
SDP
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Tarzan Milosevic
DPS
Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism
Predrag Sekulic
DPS
Minister of Health
Miodrag Radunovic, PhD
DPS
Minister for Human and Minority Rights
Ferhat Dinosha
DUA
Minister of Labour and Social Welfare
Suad Numanovic, PhD
DPS
Minister of Science
Sanja Vlahovic, PhD
DPS
Minister without Portfolio
Rafet Husovic
BS
SDP
Fact sheet December 2010 · Government
│5
The Judiciary
THE SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court is the highest court in Montenegro. Its chief responsibility is to ensure the uniform
enforcement of law by all courts.
The President of the Supreme Court is elected by the Parliament at the joint proposal of the President of
Montenegro, the Speaker of the Parliament and the Prime Minister.
THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL
Judges are appointed and removed from office by the Judicial Council. The Judicial Council comprises the
President of the Supreme Court, four judges elected by the Conference of Judges, two MPs (elected by the
Parliament from amongst the ruling majority and the opposition), two renowned lawyers (appointed by the Head
of State) and the Minister of Justice.
STRUCTURE OF THE JUDICIARY
SUPREME COURT OF MONTENEGRO
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
OF MONTENEGRO
COURT OF APPEAL OF MONTENEGRO
Superior Court Podgorica
Commercial Court Podgorica
Commercial Court Bijelo Polje
Basic Court Podgorica
Basic Court Bijelo Polje
Basic Court Bar
Basic Court Berane
Basic Court Danilovgrad
Basic Court Zabljak
Basic Court Kotor
Basic Court Kolasin
Basic Court Niksic
Basic Court Plav
Basic Court Ulcinj
Basic Court Pljevlja
Basic Court Herceg Novi
Basic Court Rozaje
Superior Court Bijelo Polje
Basic Court Cetinje
HISTORIC MILESTONE
The General Code of Montenegro and the Highlands, adopted on 29 October 1789 by the People’s Assembly and
the Council of Chieftains in the Stanjevici Monastery in Budva, lays the legal foundations for the modern Montenegrin
state and introduces the first central judicial authority of Montenegro: the Court Council of Montenegro and the
Highlands – (Praviteljstvo suda crnogroskog i brdskog).
The Court Council was the highest judicial authority, comprising 50 judges, who took an oath of loyalty to the
fatherland and pledged to make judgments according to the law and on the merits of individual cases.
October 29th is nowadays celebrated as the Day of the Montenegrin Judiciary.
6│
Fact sheet December 2010 · Society
The Media
Freedom of the press and freedom of expression are
guaranteed by the Constitution.
Media representatives are guaranteed the freedom
of expression, freedom of investigation, collection,
dissemination, publicising and receiving of information;
free access to information; protection of personal
integrity and dignity; and the uncensored and free flow
of information.
Apart from registration with the relevant authorities,
no other authorisation is required for the establishment
of media outlets, while foreign and domestic journalists
enjoy equal rights under the law.
For a country with a population of 630,000,
Montenegro has a diverse and very rich media scene.
THE PRESS
-
Vijesti – daily
Pobjeda – daily
Dan – daily
Monitor – weekly
TELEVISION (NATIONAL COVERAGE)
- TV Montenegro – public broadcaster,
operates two networks and a satellite channel
- TV IN – private
- NTV Montena – private
- TV Elmag – private
- TV MBC – private
- Pink M – private
- TV Vijesti – private
- ProTV – private
RADIO (NATIONAL COVERAGE)
- Radio Montenegro – public broadcaster,
operates two networks
- Radio Elmag – private
- Antena M – private
- Radio D – private
- PRO FM – private
NEWS AGENCY
- MNNews-Mina – private
Fact sheet December 2010 · Society
│7
Human and Minority Rights
The Montenegrin Constitution provides the
legal basis for the promotion and advancement of
fundamental human rights and freedoms and affirms
Montenegro’s commitment to respect international
standards in this area.
There are three key Constitutional provisions,
essential for the enjoyment of human rights and
freedoms. Article 6 provides general protection for
human rights and freedoms as inviolable categories.
Article 7 prohibits incitement to hatred and intolerance
on any grounds, while Article 8 bans discrimination, as
a general precondition for the enjoyment of all human
rights and freedoms.
The Constitution provides minority ethnic
communities with the following specific rights:
- to express, maintain, advance and publicly display
their national, ethnic, cultural and religious
specificities;
- to choose, use and publicly display ethnic symbols
and celebrate ethnic holidays;
- to use their own language and alphabet for private,
public and official purposes;
- to receive education in their own language and
alphabet in public institutions and for school
curricula, in communities where they account for
a significant portion of the population, to include
references to their history and culture;
- for local self-government bodies, public
administration and judicial authorities, in
communities where they account for a significant
portion of the population, to conduct proceedings
in their own language;
- to establish educational, cultural and religious
associations with financial support from the state;
- to have their names written in their own language
in official identification documents;
- to have traditional names of places and streets
and other topographic signs written in their own
language;
- to have authentic representation in the Parliament
of Montenegro and local assemblies in
communities where they account for a significant
portion of the population, in accordance with the
principle of affirmative action;
- to proportional representation in public services,
national authorities and local self-government
bodies,
- to information in their language;
- to establish and maintain contacts with persons
and associations outside of Montenegro with
whom they share common national or ethnic
origin, cultural and historical heritage or religious
beliefs;
- to establish councils for the protection and
promotion of specific rights.
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
The Ministry for Human and Minority Rights is a
government department in charge of the monitoring,
research and protection of human and minority rights
in accordance with the Constitution and international
treaties governing this area.
Within the Montenegrin Parliament, there is a
Committee for Human and Minority Rights, which
debates on human rights legislation, placing special
emphasis on the rights of minority communities.
The Ombudsman (formally: the Protector of
Human Rights and Freedoms) is an independent
institution in charge of safeguarding the human rights
and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution, laws,
ratified international treaties and general principles of
international law.
Fact sheet December 2010 · Society
8│
Unity in Diversity: Ethnicities
Throughout its history, Montenegro has cherished its religious, ethnic and cultural diversity.
STATISTICS
Montenegro’s main demographic feature is a great versatility of ethnic and religious communities.
POPULATION BY ETHNICITY
2003 CENSUS
2003 CENSUS
PERCENTAGE
No.
ETHNICITY
POPULATION
PERCENTAGE
43.16%
11.
Slovenians
415
0.07%
198,414
31.99%
12.
Hungarians
362
0.06%
Bosniaks
48,184
7.77%
13.
Egyptians
225
0.04%
Albanians
31,163
5.03%
14.
Russians
240
0.04%
5.
Muslims
24,625
3.97%
15.
Italians
127
0.02%
6.
Croatians
6,811
1.10%
16.
Germans
118
0.02%
7.
Roma
2,601
0.42%
17.
Others
2,180
0.35%
No.
ETHNICITY
POPULATION
1.
Montenegrins
267,669
2.
Serbs
3.
4.
8
Yugoslavians
1.860
0,30%
18.
Unspecified
26,906
4.34%
9.
Regional affiliation
1,258
0.20%
19.
Unknown
6,168
0.99%
10.
Macedonians
819
0.13%
620,145
100%
Historic Old Town of Bar, famous for its religious and ethnic pluralism
TOTAL
Fact sheet December 2010 · Society
Religious Diversity
HUSSEIN PASHA’S MOSQUE IN PLJEVLJA
POPULATION BY RELIGION
NO.
RELIGION
POPULATION
PERCENTAGE
1.
Orthodox
Christianity
460,383
74.28%
2.
Islam
110,034
17.74%
3.
Catholicism
21,972
3.54%
4.
Atheist
6,003
0.97%
5.
Protestant
383
0.06%
6.
Oriental
religions
58
0.009%
7.
Judaism
12
0.002%
8.
Other religions
2,424
0.39%
9.
Unspecified
13,867
2.24%
10.
Unknown
5,009
0.81%
620,145
100%
TOTAL
│9
Built in 1569 as a pious endowment of HusseinPasha Boljanic, a high-ranking official of the
Ottoman Empire originally from the village of
Boljanici near Pljevlja in Montenegro. It is regarded
as one of the most beautiful sacral monuments
of Islamic architecture in South-East Europe.
Source: the 2003 Census
OSTROG MONASTERY
A 17th-century monastery dedicated to its founder
St Vasilije of Ostrog (Sveti Vasilije Ostroški). Placed
against an almost vertical mountain side, it is one
of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the region.
ST TRIPHON’S CATHEDRAL IN KOTOR
A monument of Roman architecture, built in 1166 on
the foundations of an older pre-Roman church from the 10th
century. It was completely restored after the 1979 earthquake.
2009 celebrated the 1,200th anniversary of the moving of St
Triphon’s relics from Constantinople to Kotor.
10 │
Fact sheet December 2010 · World
Foreign Policy
EU AND NATO INTEGRATION
Montenegro sees the EU as the optimal framework
for the accommodation of further development of
overall reforms, harmonisation with European standards
and their adoption, as well as the enhancement of
bilateral relations with EU member states.
There is a broad social consensus in Montenegro
about the need to join the EU, which provides an
additional impetus for enhanced progress toward this
goal.
NATO accession is not just one of Montenegro’s
top foreign policy priorities, but one that guarantees
the stability and security necessary for achieving other
strategic national goals.
By joining NATO, Montenegro will become a
part of the best security framework for the prevention
of potential threats, challenges and risks to national,
regional and global stability; it will bring benefits such as
promotion of the image of a stable democracy, economic
development, an increase in foreign investment and equal
participation in the security decision-making process.
GOOD NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS AND
REGIONAL COOPERATION
Integration into the EU and NATO requires an
active role by Montenegro in the context of regional
cooperation, development of good neighbourly
relations and regional contextualisation of each policy.
Montenegro is recognised as a factor for stability and
peace in the region.
Although Montenegro borders only Albania, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, and Serbia, it also
considers former Yugoslav republics Macedonia and
Slovenia, as well as the neighbours of former Yugoslavia:
Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, its
neighbouring countries due to regional history.
BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL
COOPERATION
Montenegro has been formally recognised by 133
countries and has established diplomatic relations with
127 of them. A considerable number of embassies have
been opened in Podgorica, and Montenegro has started
to build its diplomatic and consular network throughout
the world.
As an active member of the United Nations and
through its participation in international organisations,
Montenegro protects and promotes its interests,
participates in defining global political trends and
addressing global problems, including Millennium
Development Goals, and together with countries of the
region and beyond seeks to invigorate cooperation and
joint representation in broader international forums.
IMPORTANT DATES IN RECENT HISTORY
- 21 May 2006 – Independence referendum
- 3 June 2006 – Parliament declares independence
- 22 June 2006 – Becomes 56th member of the
OSCE
- 28 June 2006 – Becomes 192nd member of the UN
- 24 July 2006 – EU Council adopts new negotiating
directive for the SAA with Montenegro
- 14 December 2006 – Joins NATO Partnership for
Peace (PfP)
- 18 January 2007 – Becomes a member of the IMF
and the World Bank Group
- 11 May 2007 – Becomes 47th member of the
Council of Europe
- 15 October 2007 – The Stabilisation and Association
Agreement (SAA) signed in Luxembourg
- 15 December 2008 – Submits application for EU
membership
- 30 November 2009 – EU Council grants visa free
travel for Montenegrin citizens
- 4 December 2009 – NATO Foreign Ministers
invite Montenegro to join Membership Action
Plan (MAP)
- 22 July 2009 – European Commissioner for
Enlargement conveys Questionnaire to the Prime
Minister of Montenegro
- 9 December 2009 – Prime Minister of Montenegro
presents Answers to the Questionnaire to European
Commissioner for Enlargement
- 9 November 2010 – European Commission
releases positive Opinion on Montenegro’s EU
membership application
- 17 December 2010 – European Council grants
Montenegro Candidate Status for EU Membership.
Fact sheet December 2010 · World
│ 11
European Integration
KEY FACTS
- There is a broad national consensus on EU
integration as Montenegro’s strategic priority.
According to the latest opinion polls, over 70% of
the population supports the country’s EU accession.
- Chief implementing bodies include: the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and European Integration,
the Parliamentary Committee on International
Relations and European Integration and the
National Council for European Integration
- The core strategic document is the 2008-2012
National Programme for Integration (NPI)
- Current status: Candidate Country
EU INTEGRATION MILESTONES
- 21 May 2006 – The Montenegrin independence
referendum takes place – 55.5% of votes cast in
favour of independence
- 15 October 2007 – The Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA) signed in
Luxembourg
- 1 November 2007 – The European Commission
Delegation in Podgorica starts to function
- 14 November 2007 – The Parliament of
-
-
-
-
Montenegro ratifies the SAA, the Interim
Agreement and Agreements on Visa Facilitation
and Readmission
1 January 2008 – Interim Agreement on Trade
and Trade-related Issues and Visa Facilitation and
Readmission Agreements enter into force
15 December 2008 – Montenegro submits its
application for EU membership
22 July 2009, Podgorica – The EC delivers the
Questionnaire to the Government of Montenegro.
Montenegro submits its answers and additional
answers to the Questionnaire on 9 December
2009 and 12 April 2010. The answers are available
on the web page: www.questionnaire.gov.me
30 November 2009 – The EU Council grants visafree travel for Montenegrin citizens
1 May 2010 – The Stabilisation and Association
Agreement enters into force, after being ratified
by all 27 Member States
9 November 2010 – EC presents positive Opinion
on Montenegro’s EU membership application
17 December 2010 – European Council grants
Candidate Status to Montenegro
12 │
Fact sheet December 2010 · World
Euro-atlantic integration
KEY FACTS
- In the Declaration of Independence of 3
June 2006, Montenegro clearly expressed its
commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration, as one
of the top national priorities.
- Montenegro joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace
(PfP) programme after an invitation extended at
the Riga Summit on 29 November 2006.
- The PfP Framework Document was signed in
Brussels on 14 December 2006, after which, on 25
April 2007, Montenegro submitted its Presentation
Document to NATO, clearly expressing the
ambition to join the alliance as quickly as possible.
- Montenegro’s Mission to NATO was set up in
Brussels in early June 2007.
- Having successfully utilized PfP mechanisms,
Montenegro was invited to join the Membership
Action Plan (MAP) at the NATO Foreign
Ministerial Meeting, which took place in Brussels
on 4 December 2009.
IMPORTANT DATES
- 29 November 2006 – NATO Summit in Riga –
Montenegro receives the invitation to join the
Partnership for Peace.
- 28 December 2006 – Montenegro sets up the
Partnership for Peace Council – chaired by the
Prime Minister, with the Foreign Minister and the
Minister of Defence as co-chairmen.
- 5 April 2007 – The Government adopts the
Presentation Document.
- 11 October 2007 – The Government adopts the
Communication Strategy on Montenegro’s EuroAtlantic Integration.
- February 2008 – NATO approves the launch of
the IPAP (Individual Partnership Action Plan)
with Montenegro.
- 3 April 2008 – At the Bucharest Summit, NATO
heads of state and government invite Montenegro
to open an Intensive Dialogue.
- 4 December 2009 – Montenegro invited to join
Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the NATO
Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Brussels.
- 24 February 2010 – By the decision of NATO’s
North Atlantic Council, Montenegro is recognised
as the 44th non-NATO Contributing Nation to
ISAF.
Fact sheet December 2010 · Economy
│ 13
Economy at a Glance
KEY FACTS
- National currency: EUR
- Monetary system: full euroisation
- Tax system: 17% VAT, 9% corporate profit tax,
9% personal income tax
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATINGS
- Moody’s: BA3,
- Standard&Poor’s: LongTerm (BB), Short Term
(B), Transfer and Convertibility Assessment (AAA)
KEY INDICATORS
2006
2007
2008
GDP nominal growth
18.4
30.7*
15.1
-2.7
3085.6
3003.0
est.
GDP (million EUR)
2148.9
2680.5
2009
8.6
10.7*
6.9
-5.3
GDP per capita (EUR)
3,443
4,281
4,908
4,779
Consumer price index
compared to previous
year (%)
2.1
7.7
6.9
1.5
Unemployment rate
(%)
14.5
12.6
11.3
11,6
Inflation
(% end of the year)
2.0
8.0
6.9
1.5
Average monthly net
wage (EUR)
246
338
416
463
466.70
557.71
551.71
906.91
External debt
(million EUR)
23.5
17.2
15.6
23.3
Fiscal deficit
(% of GDP)
2.94
6.65
-0.39
-5.7
-24.72
-39.6
-50.7
-29.8
3.73
6.60
0.49
-4.4
Real growth of GDP (%)
Net foreign direct
investment
(million EUR)
Current account
balance (% of GDP)
Deficit/Surplus of state
budged (% of GDP)
Export (million EUR)
627.46
487.12
433.16
276.98
Import (million EUR)
1482.69
2072.48
2527.15
1654.04
Trade balance
(million EUR)
-855.23
-1585.36 -2093.99
-1377.06
Tourist overnight stays
5,936,270 7,294,530 7,794,741 7,552,006
*A new method of compliling GDP based on international standards was introduced in 2007 and growth rates are not calculated from the data presented in the table.
14 │
Fact sheet December 2010 · Economy
Moving Forward – Major Development Projects
PORTO MONTENEGRO
Porto Montenegro will be the premier marina village
and yacht home port in the Mediterranean, designed to
cater to the advanced needs of all yachts, their owners,
guests and crews.
When complete, the marina will offer approximately
630 berths for yachts of all sizes, including 130 berths
for yachts over 30 metres in length. The first phase of
the marina opened in June 2009 with 85 berths and was
expanded to 185 berths for the summer of 2010. The
on-land development, which encompasses 24 hectares
of waterfront property, will include residences and
hotels, as well as restaurants, bars, cafés and shops, a
nautical museum and more.
VELIKA PLAZA (THE GREAT BEACH)
The Velika Plaza is as one of the largest seashore
locations in the Adriatic region, offering a unique
opportunity for tourism development. The Velika Plaza
is located in the southernmost part of Montenegro,
between the town of Ulcinj and the nature reserve and
resort of Ada Bojana.
The objective of the Velika Plaza project is the
development of a multi-purpose, exclusive, long-term
sustainable tourist complex of the highest quality,
containing hotel, leisure and sport facilities, housing
units, as well as objects of interest to the community,
including education, health, business and cultural
premises.
BAR–BOLJARE MOTORWAY
The Bar–Boljare Motorway is going to play a major
strategic role in the regional transport network. It will
link Montenegro’s coast and the capital city with other
regional capitals and economic centres, providing good
infrastructure for fast, safe and reliable travel.
This impressive undertaking involves the
construction of approximately 170 km of motorway
with 134 different road structures, such as tunnels,
viaducts and bridges, amounting to approximately 30%
of the total motorway length.
Fact sheet December 2010 · People
│ 15
History Timeline
- Early 2nd century B.C. – The Illyrian state that
included today’s Montenegro falls to the Romans
- First half of the 7th century A.D. – The Slavs
migrate to today’s Montenegro
- Mid-11th century – The Slavic principality of
Doclea (Duklja) gains independence from the
Byzantine Empire after a famous triumph under
Vojislav at Tudjemili near Bar in 1042
- 1077 – Mihailo Vojislavljevic becomes king after
accepting the crown from Pope Gregory VII
- Late 12th century – Duklja becomes part of the
State of Nemanjic (later the Empire of Serbia)
- Mid-14th century – Duklja becomes the
independent state of Zeta (later Montenegro) under
the Balsic Dynasty
- Late 15th century – The Crnojevic Dynasty acquires
the first printing house among the South Slavs in
which the first book “Oktoih” is published in 1494
- 1496 – Montenegro loses its formal independence
and falls under the Ottoman Empire, but during the
16th century develops a form of unique autonomy
within the Ottoman Empire
- 1697 – After securing a de facto independence from
the Ottomans, the Assembly of the Montenegrins
appoints Danilo Petrovic as Prince-Bishop (Vladika),
Orthodox Metropolitan and ruler, founder of the
Petrovic Dynasty (1697-1918) and theocracy in
Montenegro
- 1784-1830 – Vladika Petar I Petrovic unites the
people in most of today’s Montenegro, sets the
legal foundations of the modern Montenegrin state,
repels Ottoman attacks and becomes one of the
most important men in Montenegro’s history
- 1830-1851 – Vladika Petar II Petrovic (Njegos)
becomes very popular in European courts as the
most highly regarded poet among the South Slavs
(most notable for his The Mountain Wreath, 1847);
Creates a strong state apparatus
- 1851 – Prince Danilo becomes the first secular
Petrovic ruler and enforces state centralisation
- 1878 – After the final liberation war and the Congress
King Nikola I (1841 – 1921)
-
-
-
-
-
-
of Berlin, Montenegro receives full international
recognition of independence and sovereignty under
Prince Nikola Petrovic
1910 – The Kingdom of Montenegro proclaimed
under (now) King Nikola I after adopting the
Constitution in 1905
1914-1916 – Montenegro takes part in World War I
on the side of the Allies and wins a seminal victory
at Mojkovac (January 6, 1916) against the much
stronger Austria-Hungary; Liberated in 1918 by the
Allies
1918 – After the Assembly of Podgorica, Montenegro
loses its independence and joins the Kingdom of
Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later the Kingdom of
Yugoslavia)
1941 – After the capitulation of Yugoslavia in World
War II, Montenegrins organise a mass popular
uprising on July 13
1945 – Montenegro becomes an equal member of
the six-Republic Federation of Yugoslavia (SFRY)
1990 – Following the break-up of the SFR
Yugoslavia, Montenegro forms the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia with Serbia (later the State Union of
Serbia and Montenegro)
2006 – After a referendum on independence on May
21, Montenegro restores independence
16 │
Fact sheet December 2010 · People
Carnivals and Festivities
KOTOR CARNIVAL
The Kotor Carnival has been held each year since
the 1960s, when the long tradition of the festivity was
reestablished after being interrupted by WWII. The
carnival’s central event is a masquerade procession.
In addition to carnival troupes from Kotor and other
coastal towns in Montenegro, the Kotor Carnival also
welcomes many carnival groups from all over the world.
The event takes place in February and attracts thousands
of visitors each year.
MIMOSA FESTIVAL
The Mimosa Festival has been celebrated in the
coastal municipality of Herceg Novi since 1969. Taking
place in February, the festival displays the region’s
abundance of flowers, particularly mimosa flowers, at a
time when most of Europe is still covered with snow. The
event features a brass band procession with majorettes,
a traditional wine and fish feast, a masquerade and many
other cultural, sports and entertainment options.
DAYS OF BLEAK AND WINE
The festival celebrates Montenegro’s wine-making
and fishing tradition. The festivities take place in the
picturesque town of Virpazar, once Montenegro’s
biggest market place, on the shores of Lake Skadar,
where the local producers offer free tasting of their
wines and foods. The Lake Skadar bleak is a fish species
endemic to the lake.
Fact sheet December 2010 · People
In Montenegro – Sport Matters
Water polo – Four gold medals in four
competitions in three years
Montenegro’s national men’s team won the
gold medal at the 2008 LEN Men’s European
Water Polo Championship in Málaga, Spain after a
tough game against Serbia.
The national team also won a gold medal at the
FINA World League in 2009, after beating Croatia in
the finals.
VK Primorac makes history by winning the
Water Polo Euro League Final Four 2009
Shortly after the national team’s triumph at the 2008
European Championships and the 2009 World League,
a local club made history once again. VK Primorac
Kotor won its first title in the Water Polo Euro League
by winning the 2009 Final Four in Rijeka, Croatia.
Cattaro wins LEN Trophy 2010
In 2010, Cattaro became the first Montenegrin
water polo club to win the LEN Cup, Europe’s second
best water polo club competition.
FOOTBALL
Being World’s youngest national football team,
Montenegro has achieved tremendous results in the
Euro Cup 2012 qualifiers, topping the group after
the first round, leaving England, Switzerland, Bulgaria
and Wales trailing behind. The “Brave Falcons”
achieved this big result by beating Switzerland and
Wales in Podgorica, Bulgaria in Sofia, and beating
all odds by drawing at a packed Wembley against a
much favoured opponent.
BASKETBALL
Montenegro qualifies for the FIBA EuroBasket
2011 as group leader ahead of Israel, Italy, Latvia and
Finland.
In the short history since the team was established
after independence and joined FIBA in 2006, they
won all their games except one – against Israel in the
EuroBasket 2011 qualifiers in the crowded Nokia Arena
in Tel Aviv.
│ 17
18 │
Fact sheet December 2010 · Nature
World’s First Ecological State
The Montenegrin Parliament adopted the
Declaration on the Ecological State of Montenegro on
20 September 1991, making Montenegro the world’s
first Ecological State. The concept of Montenegro as
an ecological state is enshrined in the Constitution.
NATURE RESERVES
There are five national parks in Montenegro:
Durmitor, Biogradska gora, Lovcen, Lake Skadar
and Prokletije. The national parks cover 9.04% of
Montenegro’s territory.
DURMITOR
The Durmitor region with its untouched beauty is
a rare and authentic work of nature. It was declared
a national park in 1952. Situated in the northwest of
the country, the park occupies a large portion of the
Durmitor massif, including the canyons of the Rivers
Tara, Draga and Susica and the upper part of the
Komarnica River Canyon. It covers an area of 32,100
hectares.
The most striking geographical feature of the
national park is a vast plateau, cut by deep canyons at
1,500 metres above sea level. The area is dotted with
mountain tops, 48 of them above 2,000 metres, the
highest being Bobotov Kuk at an altitude of 2,525 m.
The Durmitor National Park has been on UNESCO’s
World Heritage List since 1980. In addition, the River
Tara Basin, which is part of the national park, has been
recognized as a biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s
Man and the Biosphere Programme since 1977.
BIOGRADSKA GORA
Located in the central part of Montenegro, between
the Rivers Tara and Lim in the central part of the
Bjelasica massif, it covers an area of 5,650 hectares
(31,961 acres).
Biogradska Gora became a protected area only six
years after Yellowstone was declared the world’s first
national park. In 1878, the area was presented as a
gift to the then ruler of Montenegro Prince Nikola I
Petrovic and has been under state protection ever since.
The park’s most important natural feature is a 1,600acre virgin forest, one of the last three in Europe.
LOVCEN
Lovcen National Park sits in the central and
highest part of the Lovcen massif, in the southwest of
Fact sheet December 2010 · Nature
Montenegro between the Lake Skadar Basin, the Bay of
Kotor and the Budva Riviera. The area covering 6,220
hectares was declared a national park in 1952.
The park’s centrepiece monument is the Mausoleum
of Peter I Pretrovic Njegos, erected at Jezerski Vrh
(Lake Peak), the resting place chosen by the famous
ruler and poet himself.
The place is legendary for its lookouts offering
amazing views of the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar and
the highlands in the north.
│ 19
LAKE SKADAR
Covering an area ranging from 370 to 530 square
kilometres, depending on the water level, Lake Skadar is
the biggest lake in the Balkans.
Its favourable geographical position and subMediterranean climate have made it one of Europe’s
most important habitats of marsh birds, second only to
the River Danube delta. Around 280 bird species breed
and nest on the lake, including the rare curly pelican,
which became the symbol of the national park and the
lake itself.
Two thirds of Lake Skadar belong to Montenegro
and one third to the Republic of Albania. The
Montenegrin part of the lake, with 40,000 hectares of
shore land, was proclaimed a national park in 1983.
PROKLETIJE
The Prokletije mountain range was proclaimed
Montenegro’s fifth national park in 2009.
Prokletije National Park covers an area of 16,630
hectares. It has two natural reserves: Lake Hrid (347
ha) and Volusnica (705 ha). Prokletije also boasts the
highest peak in Montenegro, Zla Kolata, at 2,534m.
Glacial activity made a deep impact on Prokletije,
now considered one of the most glacial mountain
ranges in Europe, second only to the Alps. With its
endemic flora and fauna, Prokletije is not only important
within the Balkans, but is also a significant European
and global centre of biodiversity. The Prokletije area
is home to over 140 species of butterflies, making it
Europe’s richest area for butterflies.
The locals called it “Prokletije” – “The Cursed
Mountain” due to its wild, harsh climate, and threats
from bears, lynxes and wolves.
20 │
Fact sheet December 2010 · Content
State System of Montenegro
Government
0
Montenegro in Brief
Government
1
President of Montenegro
Government
2
Parliament of Montenegro
Government
3
Government of Montenegro
Government
4
The Judiciary
Government
5
The Media
Society
6
Human and Minority Rights
Society
7
Unity in Diversity: Ethnicities
Society
8
Religious Diversity
Society
9
Foreign Policy
World
10
European Integration
World
11
Euro-Atlantic Integration
World
12
Economy at a Glance
Economy
13
Moving forward – Major Development Projects
Economy
14
History Timeline
People
15
Carnivals and Festivities
People
16
In Montenegro – Sport Matters
People
17
World’s First Ecological State
Nature
18
Content
20
TiTle:
Montenegro Facts
Government Guide Series
Published in:
Podgorica
Publisher:
Government of Montenegro
Public Relations Bureau
Karadjordjeva bb, 81 000 Podgorica, Montenegro
Published:
2010
design:
Incognito Advertising&Media, Podgorica
Cover Page PhoTo:
Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic-Njegos on Mount Lovcen
PrinT:
M Print, Podgorica
PrinT run:
500 pcs.
CIP - Каталогизација у публикацији
Централна народна библиотека Црне Горе, Цетиње
ISBN 978-9940-576-00-4
COBISS.CG-ID 17128720