Monténégro
On November 24, 2025, Montenegrin authorities convened in Podgorica to review ongoing efforts to harmonize national legislation with the Law on Same-Sex Partnerships. This meeting, organized under the joint European Union and Council of Europe action "Combating hatred and intolerance in Montenegro," aimed to ensure that same-sex couples can fully exercise their rights within the country.
Representatives from various ministries and institutions responsible for adapting laws and by-laws under their jurisdiction participated in the discussions. They examined progress made since July and outlined the next steps required to close remaining gaps in the legal framework.
Lejla Dervišagić, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica, expressed gratitude to the attendees for their timely updates on the harmonization status, which contributed to a comprehensive overview for the European Commission's country report on Montenegro.
Mirjana Pajković from the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights emphasized that legislative alignment is a key activity under the Action Plan for fulfilling the final benchmarks in negotiating Chapter 23—Judiciary and Fundamental Rights.
Friederike Wuenschmann from the EU Delegation in Montenegro reminded participants that the necessary laws must be adopted by the end of July 2026, in line with the envisaged dynamics of closing negotiating chapters.
Representatives of various ministries shared progress updates, indicating that harmonization is already underway in many areas. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, holding the most demanding portfolio for harmonization, briefed on their progress and highlighted the importance of potential expert support in finalizing the work.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue regular exchanges on the harmonization process, with the next follow-up meeting tentatively planned for March 2026.
This initiative reflects Montenegro's commitment to upholding human rights and aligning its legal framework with European standards, ensuring equal rights and protections for all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation.
