Reform Agenda and Civil Society: Frequently Asked Questions Answered
The Institute Alternative organised an internal meeting on Wednesday, 10 December, dedicated to the implementation of the Reform Agenda 2024–2027 and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The meeting brought together representatives of key institutions responsible for implementing reform measures, as well as representatives of civil society. Participants included representatives of civil society and…
EU accession negotiations, Parliamentary program
Amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs retain controversial provisions
The proposed amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs retain controversial provisions – despite prior commitments, both the public consultation and the European Commission’s opinion have been omitted The proposed amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs, despite announcements about the professionalisation of the police, do not guarantee legal certainty or judicial protection in procedures…
Our comments on the Draft Strategy on Public Procurement
Within the public consultation process, we submitted comments, proposals and suggestions to the Ministry of Finance on the Draft Strategy for Improving Public Procurement and Public-Private Partnership Policy for the period 2026–2030. In our submission, we highlighted the need to strengthen the legal framework for preventing corruption in the public procurement system, in particular by…
Review of the European Commission Report: Better Scores, but the Same Warnings
According to the assessments given for 33 open chapters, Montenegro has indeed achieved its best progress score so far – 3.63. However, the recommendations in the cluster of fundamental rights are more specific this year, reaffirming the requirements from Montenegro to deliver more tangible results. Our detailed overview of readiness and progress scores by…
Despite Strong Foundations, Digital Transformation is Advancing Slowly
Montenegro ranks second-to-last among the six Western Balkan countries in the digitalization of public administration and service delivery, scoring only half a point higher than Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to findings from the WeBER project implemented in Montenegro by Institute Alternative. Despite the launch of the new e-Government portal and the plan to develop 171…
Reasoned Debate and Facts Over Violence and Revenge
Every violation of the law — especially acts of violence resulting in serious harm or loss of life — must be efficiently investigated and prosecuted. Guilt is always individual. In a civilized society, there can be no justification for inflicting suffering on others out of revenge. Ministry of the Interior and the National Security Agency…
Accountable public finances, Public administration reform, Rule of law
Reform Agenda – Accumulation of Obligations and Unpaid Funds
So far, Montenegro has withdrawn just over one third of the funds that were available for the successful implementation of the Reform Agenda. Reports by the European Commission point to unreliable reporting and slow progress in meeting targets, while measures “on hold” continue to accumulate. Although the disbursement of the first and second tranches of…
When Reform Meets Bureaucracy
A reflection on the recently adopted Government conclusions on strengthening administrative capacities in the period 2025–2026: Is our bar really so low that we need a plan just to obey the law? In Montenegro, the number of employees in public administration, education, health care, defense, and social services per 100,000 inhabitants is 2.7 times higher…
Montenegro Lags Behind the Region in Service Delivery and Digitalisation
The results of the regional WeBER monitoring of public administration reform in the area of service delivery and digitalisation have shown that Montenegro ranks second to last among the six Western Balkan countries, with 36 points out of a possible 100 – only 0.5 points ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As many as 37.5% of…
Procurement of Police Uniforms Outside the Public Procurement System
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has demonstrated that it is unwilling to operate in accordance with the public procurement system established by Montenegro. -This is shown by the information on the adoption of the Financing Agreement between UNDP and the Ministry of Interior for providing operational support to this ministry during the 2025–2027 period, which…
Why the Hell Do We Need a New ID Card?
It’s been a long time since this state has so pointlessly tormented its citizens as much as it has now, with the obligation to obtain new ID cards. With constant warnings and threats, and finally the blackmail of blocked bank accounts, the stampede of citizens had no choice but to rush to the Ministry of…
Accountable public finances, Public administration reform
Some local administrations plan to hire more than 50% of the current workforce: No justification for new waves of hiring
Hiring more than 1,300 people has been planned by 22 Montenegrin municipalities, despite large debts for unpaid taxes and salary contributions. As many as 16 municipalities plan to hire more than one-third of their current number of employees. Twenty-two Montenegrin local governments, through their staffing plans for 2025, have expressed the need to hire as…
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Podcast, Public administration reform
Public Sector Under the Labor Inspectorate’s Scrutiny: Fewer Inspections, More Initiatives
Most of the initiatives received by the Labor Inspectorate concern the public sector; however, the private sector is subject to more frequent inspections, as irregularities there tend to have more serious consequences, explained the Chief Labor Inspector in our ReForma podcast. He announced plans to strengthen the Inspectorate’s capacities, which would, among other things, enable better oversight…
Podcast, Public administration reform
#ReForma: On Employment and Challenges in the Capital City
The Capital City is in the test phase of an application that will, within its human resources records, also include records of service contracts, with implementation expected in the coming weeks, announced Slađana Anđušić, Secretary for Local Self-Government and Cooperation with Civil Society, speaking on the IA’s #ReForma podcast. On the topic of local-level employment,…
Podcast, Public administration reform
Discrimination in Public Sector Employment: Difficult to Prove, but Widespread
Discrimination in public sector employment is difficult to prove; however, cases before the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms indicate that discrimination is most prevalent in the area of employment and labor relations, with nationality and political affiliation being the most common grounds. On the issue of discrimination in public sector employment, the many challenges…
Podcast, Public administration reform
The second episode of IA podcast (Re)Form with Marija Hajduković: Counting public administration employees
In the second episode of the IA podcast (Re)Forma, we discussed the activities undertaken in the process of public administration reform, the importance of data accessibility, and the announced (urgent) amendments to the Law on Civil Servants and State Employees with Marija Hajduković, General Director of the Directorate for Strategic Planning in Public Administration, International…
Podcast, Public administration reform
The first episode of our new podcast “(Re)Forma”: Institutions should not enhance the reduction of competitiveness of employment process
Political parties promise meritocracy, but only declaratively. In the first episode, Milena Muk, a public policy researcher at Institute Alternative (IA), explains what changes need to be made in the legal framework and practice so that public sector employment becomes more competitive. The lack of progress since the change of government in 2020 regarding public…
Podcast, Public administration reform
Stevo Muk in the Podcast “European Talks”
Winds of change in Montenegro: What to expect in the next period? The recent elections in Montenegro suggest that major changes could soon take place in the country in the Western Balkans. Montenegro has opened all chapters in the process of negotiations with the EU, but how far has the enlargement process really progressed and…
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