Together with our member, the Center for Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO), we present the 2023 Report on the Civil Society Environment in Montenegro. The report highlights critical challenges, such as delays in drafting the new Law on NGOs due to a lack of transparency. While the CSO register is functional, it lacks essential data like contact information, funding sources, and staff number. The environment for CSO participation in policymaking remains discouraging, as ministries fail to meet their consultation obligations. The Strategy for Cooperation between State Authorities and NGOs has seen limited implementation, and the Council for Cooperation is non-functional. Service provision by CSOs is unregulated, SLAPP targets remain unprotected, and tax benefits do little to encourage giving, leaving CSOs heavily reliant on foreign funding. The report is part of a series of country reports covering civil society environments in six Western Balkan countries and Türkiye. Find the full report here.
Source: BCSDN/ CRNVO