Local and Regional Self-Government in Montenegro

The chapter provides an analysis of the evolution and current characteristics of the local self-government system in Montenegro, tracing its institutional legacy from the era of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) to contemporary legal frameworks. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and Montenegro’s independence in 2006, the country has maintained a homogeneous system of local self-government with a single tier of authority, where municipalities serve as the basic units of local governance. The modern institutional framework for local self-government in Montenegro is based on the 2007 Constitution, which guarantees the right to local self-government and defines the municipality as the fundamental form. Although the Constitution allows for the establishment of other (higher) forms of local self-government, subsequent laws have confirmed the system as single-tier. In practice, local self-governments in Montenegro often lack sufficient financial resources, and there is a tendency for central authorities to maintain control over local units. The issue of regionalization is not a priority for official authorities nor political parties, and regional policy is largely limited to regional development strategies adopted by central government. The term “regionalization” is typically associated with balanced regional development rather than the formation of regional self-government. The Law on Regional Development defines planning regions but lacks provisions for regional institutions or development strategies, centralizing the regional development policy. Montenegro’s political parties show limited interest in regional decentralization, focusing instead on strengthening municipalities and fostering inter-municipal cooperation as tools for democratization and addressing regional disparities. The conclusion is that, despite constitutional provisions allowing for the introduction of higher levels of local self-government, real changes are likely to manifest through the strengthening of municipalities and enhanced inter-municipal cooperation. Montenegro is a small country with relatively large municipalities, but significant diversification that requires specific regional approaches to public problem-solving.