Montenegro

The National Youth Strategy (2017-2021) of Montenegro was implemented in 2016 as a re-evaluation of the former National Youth Action Plan (NYAP) (2006-2011). The Youth Strategy aims to achieve six key objectives:

1. Young people achieve economic and social security through improved access to labour market and employment;
2. Young people have access to quality education;
3. Young people are active citizens, involved, motivated, proactive and participate in decision-making and community development processes;
4. Young people are healthy, safe, have access to an adequate support system for transition to adulthood and self-realisation, they are self-aware, innovative, showing initiative and accept diversity;
5. Young people have access to quality cultural content as creators and consumers;
6. Normative and institutional framework for the implementation of youth policy has been established.

According to a report by the Council of Europe in the field of youth work, the Youth Strategy "positions young people not only as subjects of youth policy, but also as actors responsible for its planning, realisation, monitoring, and evaluation."

The first Law on Youth in Montenegro was passed in 2016, but it was determined to have deficiencies. A new Law on Youth ((link to PDF in YPL library once uploaded)) was thus passed in 2019.

In Montenegro, the Ministry (or Directorate) of Sports and Youth is responsible for youth policy. The Youth Strategy (2017-2021) asserts that the Ministry's main tasks are related to:

1. Improvement and implementation of the national policy, strategy and action plans and programmes for youth;
2. Cooperation with youth organisations and associations regarding organisation of international youth manifestations and events in Montenegro;
3. Assistance and cooperation with youth organisations and associations and their promotion;
4. Enabling youth organisations and associations from Montenegro to participate at international youth manifestations;
5. Stimulation and achievement of international cooperation regarding youth;
6. Stimulation of development of youth policy and work of the Youth office at state and local levels, as well as set of activities in the domain of status, rights and obligations of sportsmen and sportswomen.

The Ministry has a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram account

The Youth Law (2016) established the Council on Youth (COF) as a body responsible for overseeing the implementation of youth policies. According to an OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) file, the COF recommends youth policy legislations, implements and evaluates youth policy strategies, and monitors "the position of youth people." The file also asserts that the Ministry (or Directorate) for Sports and Youth performs "the administrative and expert tasks for the needs of the Council on Youth, including data collection regarding the implementation of specific measures." The COF has a Facebook and Instagram account. Additionally, a report by the European Union and Council of Europe states that the Youth Law (2016) established a Central Association of Youth Organizations as an Umbrella Youth Association. This Umbrella Youth Association consists of non-governmental local and central youth associations. The Umbrella Youth Association can propose two representatives, of which one is a youth, to join the membership of the COF.

According to a paper by the Council of Europe, youth work is not yet considered a profession in Montenegro. The paper describes how both the Law on Youth and the Youth Strategy define youth work:

"Youth work represents activities that are implemented in cooperation with youth and for the youth with a goal of helping them reach independence and transition to adulthood, educational, personal and social development, in line with their needs and abilities, which are based on the methods of non-formal education."

The National Youth Strategy (2017-2021) is dedicated to promoting and professionalizing youth work. The policy states:

"Youth work is being implemented within extracurricular activities, within youth clubs, centres, institutions, schools, etc., and contributes to the development of young people into aware, responsible and active members of society, who contribute to the development of the community, show initiative and respect diversity."

According to the Proposal for the Law on Amendments to the 2022 Budget Law of Montenegro, (2022) the Ministry of Sports and Youth was allocated EUR 5.97 million (USD 6.19 million). A 2020 report by the Council of Europe delves into the public expenditure allocated to youth:

"Based on the public calls for financing projects of NGOs implementing the youth policy according to the Law on Youth from 2016 and Law on non-governmental organization" the Ministry was allocated "almost 800,000 EUR for around 150 projects of NGOs aimed on the implementation of youth policy measures and activities within the six key priorities defined by the National Youth Strategy 2017-2018."

Additionally, the Ministry's budget should be used to provide resources for:

1. Establishing and functioning of youth services established by the municipality;
2. Activities that are implemented by the NGOs in line with the local youth action plan.

There is no specific budget for the National Youth Strategy (2017-2021).