5.9 Are there international social issues that dominate the national policy agenda?
It is expected that in 2012 Montenegro will receive feedback from EU and NATO on its potential date for membership in these two organizations.
5.10 Are there local or regional social issues that dominate in the national policy agenda?
Yes, there is large discrepancy between development of Southern, Central and Northern parts of Montenegro. Southern Montenegro and Podgorica (which is geographically part of Central Montenegro) are mostly rich and developed while Central Montenegro (without Podgorica) and Northern Montenegro are undeveloped, with ruined economy and significant economic and social issues. Also, there is large discrepancy between urban and rural areas.
According to a Survey on poverty in Montenegro54 for 2010, poverty rate in Northern Montenegro is twice bigger than in Central Montenegro, and four times bigger than in Southern Montenegro. Poverty rate in northern region was 10.30%, central region 5.90% and 2.60% in southern region. Northern region has 28.90% of Montenegrin population and 45.20% of poor people in Montenegro. It is interesting to note that this Survey showed 1.40% increase of poverty in urban areas and 3.50% decrease in rural areas, which might come from increase of unemployment in urban areas, and increase of employment in rural areas due to stimulus programs for agricultural development in the country.
5.11 What are the main religions practiced by the population? Are there philanthropic norms associated with them?
Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Roman Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)55.
All the religions have specific philanthropic norms but they are not active when it comes to philanthropy.
Economic
Since independence in 2006 Montenegro has progressed in its quest in joining the EU, signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement which oversees closer integration with the EU and covers commitments to political, economic, trade, or human rights reform in exchange for tariff-free access to some or all EU markets, financial or technical assistance. As part of the EU pre-accession process, Montenegro has received financial aid to build public institutions and improve cross-border co-operation under EU funding mechanism Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance. Under the funding scheme, Montenegro is expected to receive €34.0 million during 2010, €34.7 million during 2011 and €35.4 million during 2012.
Closer integration with the EU coincided with a period of strong economic growth, with foreign direct investment focused on the construction and finance sectors. The recent global financial crisis significantly impacted Montenegro due to the contraction in the booming real estate industry, concerns about contagion and the stability of its banking system. Real GDP contracted in 2009 by an estimated 6.6%, with a smaller 1.8% contraction forecasted for 2010 by the International Monetary Fund.
5.12 GDP per capital, key economic indicators
2.7% - GDP growth (2011)56
3,054,000,00 – GDP (2010)57
US$ 5,180.00 - GNI per capita (2009)58
0.5 % - Inflation (Average Consumer Price Change %) for 201059
1.9% - expected GDP growth in 2012 by EBRD60.
1.25 billion EUR – state budget for 2012
3.2% - budget deficit (2011)61
1.48 million EUR (45.3% of GDP) – total debt at the end of 2011. Internal debt – 419.8 million EUR (12.8% of GDP), external debt – 1.064 billion EUR (32.5% of GDP)62. Annual increase of total debt – 16.75%.
57,669 – number of legal entities registered at the Commercial Court (January 31, 2012.)63
15,352 – number of companies that had “account blockade” by the Central bank due to inter-company debt of more than 380 million EUR (January 31, 2012)64.
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Source: http://www.economywatch.com/economic-statistics/country/Montenegro/
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| 5.13 Unemployment rate65
19.70% - unemployment rate (2010)
169.98 EUR - Absolute powerty line (2010)
6.6% - of population lived below the absolute powerty line (2010)
42% - of youth under 25 are unemployed
According to data from Montenegro Employment Bureau at the end of 2011 there were 30,458 unemployed persons (persons registered as unemployed at the Bureau) in Montenegro which gives 11.54% unemployment rate66.
5.14 Political
Some important dates on EU integrations67:
Montenegro started negotiation with EU on the Agreement on stabilization and association on September 26, 2006 (Montenegro gained independence on May 21, 2006) and it has been signed in Podgorica on March 15, 2007. It came into force on May 2, 2010.
On December 15, 2008 Montenegro officially applied for membership to EU and on November 9, 2010 European commission recommended candidate status to Montenegro. On December 17, 2010 Montenegro became formal candidate state for full EU membership.
On December 12, 2011 European Commission recommended to start negotiations with Montenegro.
Montenegro aims to become member of NATO and EU and it is on the list of countries that achieved significant number of their requirements in past few years. Corruption has been recognized as a key milestone in this process.
According to the Index of perception of corruption of Transparency International in 2011 Montenegro was, together with Croatia and Slovakia, on 66 place and it took three places better position than in 2010. With the mark 4 on this list Montenegro is still seen as a country that endangers economy and society in total.
European Commission also stated that corruption and nepotism are one of the biggest problems in the society.
Source: Transparency International
In the annual report “Freedoms of the world” for 2011 of Freedom House, Montenegro is seen as a free country with mark 3 for political rights and mark 2 for civil rights.
“Index of economic freedoms” of Heritage foundation and Wall Street Journal for 2012 rated Montenegro on position 72, which is higher than Croatia (position 83.) which will become member of EU. Montenegro got the same rating as a year before, and it defines Montenegro as “partially free” economy. The report stated that “Montenegro develops a modern and live economy, with a trade regime which is becoming more open, and with a legal framework that is becoming efficient in supporting private sector in the country”68. Low level of protection of property rights, inefficient fight against corruption and political impact on judiciary have been seen as key milestones for long term economic growth.
Source: Heritage Foundation
According to Economy Ranking of IFC Doing Business report, Montenegro is better ranked than many European countries and almost all countries in the region.
Economy
|
Ease of Doing Business Rank ▲
|
Starting a Business
|
Dealing with Construction Permits
|
Getting Electricity
|
Registering Property
|
Getting Credit
|
Protecting Investors
|
Paying Taxes
|
Trading Across Borders
|
Enforcing Contracts
|
Resolving Insolvency
|
Macedonia, FYR
|
22
|
6
|
61
|
121
|
49
|
24
|
17
|
26
|
67
|
60
|
55
|
Switzerland
|
26
|
85
|
46
|
6
|
14
|
24
|
166
|
12
|
41
|
23
|
43
|
Belgium
|
28
|
36
|
51
|
87
|
174
|
48
|
17
|
77
|
36
|
20
|
8
|
France
|
29
|
25
|
30
|
62
|
149
|
48
|
79
|
58
|
24
|
6
|
46
|
Portugal
|
30
|
26
|
97
|
34
|
31
|
126
|
46
|
78
|
26
|
22
|
22
|
Netherlands
|
31
|
79
|
99
|
67
|
48
|
48
|
111
|
43
|
13
|
28
|
7
|
Austria
|
32
|
134
|
76
|
21
|
35
|
24
|
133
|
82
|
25
|
9
|
21
|
Slovenia
|
37
|
28
|
81
|
27
|
79
|
98
|
24
|
87
|
50
|
58
|
39
|
Spain
|
44
|
133
|
38
|
69
|
56
|
48
|
97
|
48
|
55
|
54
|
20
|
Slovak Republic
|
48
|
76
|
50
|
102
|
10
|
24
|
111
|
130
|
95
|
71
|
35
|
Luxembourg
|
50
|
81
|
33
|
63
|
134
|
150
|
122
|
17
|
31
|
1
|
49
|
Hungary
|
51
|
39
|
55
|
103
|
43
|
48
|
122
|
117
|
74
|
19
|
66
|
Montenegro
|
56
|
47
|
173
|
71
|
108
|
8
|
29
|
108
|
34
|
133
|
52
|
Bulgaria
|
59
|
49
|
128
|
133
|
66
|
8
|
46
|
69
|
91
|
87
|
90
|
Poland
|
62
|
126
|
160
|
64
|
89
|
8
|
46
|
128
|
46
|
68
|
87
|
Czech Republic
|
64
|
138
|
68
|
148
|
34
|
48
|
97
|
119
|
70
|
78
|
33
|
Turkey
|
71
|
61
|
155
|
72
|
44
|
78
|
65
|
79
|
80
|
51
|
120
|
Romania
|
72
|
63
|
123
|
165
|
70
|
8
|
46
|
154
|
72
|
56
|
97
|
Croatia
|
80
|
67
|
143
|
56
|
102
|
48
|
133
|
32
|
100
|
48
|
94
|
Albania
|
82
|
61
|
183
|
154
|
118
|
24
|
16
|
152
|
76
|
85
|
64
|
Italy
|
87
|
77
|
96
|
109
|
84
|
98
|
65
|
134
|
63
|
158
|
30
|
Serbia
|
92
|
92
|
175
|
79
|
39
|
24
|
79
|
143
|
79
|
104
|
113
|
Greece
|
100
|
135
|
41
|
77
|
150
|
78
|
155
|
83
|
84
|
90
|
57
|
Kosovo
|
117
|
168
|
171
|
124
|
73
|
24
|
174
|
46
|
131
|
157
|
31
|
Russian Federation
|
120
|
111
|
178
|
183
|
45
|
98
|
111
|
105
|
160
|
13
|
60
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
125
|
162
|
163
|
157
|
100
|
67
|
97
|
110
|
108
|
125
|
80
|
Legal
5.15 Barriers for NGOs
No such idenfied.
5.16 Data privacy and security regulations
Rights on privacy and data protection are recognized by the Montenegrin Constitution and a set of laws. In order to fully implement privacy and protection of personal data in the country, the Parliament adopted Law on protection of personal data in 2008, while the Agency for protection of personal data has been established in 2009, as the key supervisory body in this field. Other laws that regulate this field are Law on data privacy Law on free access to information and a set of laws in the field of offence regulation.
Concerning internet security in 2008. Montenegro Government adopted Program of internet security in Montenegro which provided basic framework for improving security in this field. Based on this program Ministry for Information Society and Telecommunications (MIDT) recently established a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), as a team which is responsible for acting in case of any internet threats to the country.
Regulation in the field of privacy, data protection and internet security aim to fulfill all NATO and EU standards. Thus, the regulation fully introduced all offences defined in the Convention on cyber criminal.
6. Language
The primary language used in Montenegro is Montenegrin, but majority of young people speak very good English. It it the same situation within business and NGO community.
Generaly, primary language used online is Montenegrin, but English is not far behind Montenegrin in this case.
Considering character sets, we might say that Serbian-Latin and English are used equally.
Montenegrin language is officialy used all over the country (by new Law it is equally treated as Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian – generally they are the same languages, but related to different national groups in the country) and all offical documents are required to be officially translated (by certified translators) into Montenegrin.
Considering software (primarly Microsoft products), we might say that both English and Serbian/Croatian versions are equally used in the country.
Podgorica, February 01, 2012.
Prepared by:
Anto Jankovic
e-mail: anto@faktcg.org
Skype: anto_jankovic
T: @AntoJankovic
FB: http://www.facebook.com/anto.jankovic
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