Montenegro’s Parliament is set to begin debating the government’s proposed constitutional amendments, with discussions taking place over two days. Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic announced that the first vote will be held on 6 July. However, lawmakers will not be voting on the constitutional amendments themselves. Instead, they will decide whether to formally open the constitutional amendment procedure, which is only the first step in a lengthy process.
Under Montenegro’s Constitution, opening the amendment procedure requires a two-thirds majority (54 of 81 MPs). If approved, a parliamentary committee will draft the amendments, followed by a public consultation lasting at least one month. Parliament would then hold a second vote on the final amendments, again requiring a two-thirds majority. If the amendments concern specially protected constitutional provisions, such as state independence or official symbols, they would also require approval in a national referendum.
Mandic argued that Montenegro cannot afford further delays if it wants to maintain its European Union accession timeline. He expressed hope that all MPs would support opening the process, describing it as essential for the country’s European future.
EU Ambassador Johann Sattler described the upcoming votes as crucial rather than routine, saying Montenegro has a historic opportunity to complete EU accession negotiations. He stressed that securing a two-thirds majority for constitutional reforms, judicial appointments, and electoral legislation is essential for advancing EU membership. He also urged political parties to put national interests above partisan differences.
The opposition, represented by Andrija Nikolic, said constitutional amendments should be considered within the broader political dialogue between the government and opposition. While remaining open to compromise, the opposition is waiting for concrete proposals from the parliamentary majority before deciding its position.
The proposed constitutional amendments are not related to identity issues such as language, the flag, or the country’s political system. Instead, they focus on strengthening judicial independence by reforming the appointment of members of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, aligning Montenegro’s Constitution with future EU membership, and creating a constitutional framework for participation in European Parliament elections. These reforms are considered a key condition for Montenegro’s continued EU integration and access to EU growth funding.
