Podgorica, 24 June 2026 The Government of Montenegro and the United Nations have reaffirmed their shared commitment to accelerating sustainable development and Montenegro's European integration by signing the Joint Work Plan for 2026–2027 under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027.The Joint Work Plan was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović and UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Caroline Tissot during the Joint Country Steering Committee meeting, co-chaired by the two officials. The meeting reviewed progress achieved under the three strategic pillars of the Cooperation Framework: inclusive economic development, human capital development and social cohesion, and governance grounded in the rule of law and human rights. Participants also discussed priorities for the next phase of implementation, ensuring continued alignment between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Montenegro's European Union accession process.In 2025 alone, the United Nations and its partners implemented programmes and projects worth USD 27 million across Montenegro, representing 82 per cent of the planned annual budget. More than half of these investments directly supported Montenegro's EU accession priorities, particularly in negotiation Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights), 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security) and 27 (Environment and Climate Change). The European Union contributed more than USD 10 million, reaffirming its role as one of Montenegro's key development partners. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović underlined that the partnership with the United Nations continues to play an important role in supporting Montenegro's development priorities. “As we advance on our European path, it is important that our joint efforts remain closely aligned with both our EU accession agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," said Ibrahimović.UN Resident Coordinator Caroline Tissot welcomed the strong results achieved through the partnership. “The achievements of the past year show the strength of our partnership and what we can accomplish when we work together towards shared goals. The United Nations remains a committed partner to Montenegro, supporting reforms that advance sustainable development, uphold human rights, strengthen institutions and ensure that no one is left behind," Tissot said. The newly signed Joint Work Plan sets out shared priorities for the period 2026–2027 and will guide the continued implementation of the Cooperation Framework through coordinated action by the Government of Montenegro, the United Nations, the European Union and other development partners.As Montenegro advances towards EU membership while pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals, the partnership between the Government and the United Nations remains focused on delivering tangible results that leave no one behind.

 Podgorica, 24. jun 2026.Twenty years ago, Montenegro's flag was raised for the first time outside United Nations Headquarters in New York, marking the country's return to the global stage as an independent and equal member of the international community. Two decades later, that partnership is measured by far more than membership in an international organization. It is reflected in stronger institutions, reforms that have improved people's lives, and joint efforts to advance sustainable development.This shared journey was at the heart of a ceremony jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and the United Nations in Montenegro to mark the 20th anniversary of Montenegro's membership in the United Nations. "Twenty years ago, when Montenegro's flag was raised on the East River, a partnership began that continues to this day. But these two decades are not only about policies, reforms or institutions. They are about people – their ambitions, opportunities, expanded rights, improved quality of life and hope for the future," said Caroline Tissot, UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro.Since Montenegro joined the United Nations in 2006, the country and the UN have worked together across nearly every major area of development. Their partnership has supported reforms in education, health and social protection, public administration and digital transformation, environmental protection, gender equality, democratic governance and the rule of law, while providing continuous support to Montenegro's European Union accession process. Today, the impact of that cooperation can be seen in the everyday lives of citizens – from a modernized social protection system that processes hundreds of thousands of monthly payments, to a dramatic increase in preschool enrolment, stronger climate policies, improved media and information literacy, expanded digital public services, and reforms bringing Montenegro closer to European standards.Reflecting on Montenegro's journey over the past two decades, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović described the country's admission to the United Nations as its "return to the global stage." "It was the moment that formally affirmed Montenegro's international recognition as an independent, sovereign State and an equal member of the international community. Today, Montenegro is not only a beneficiary of international support, but also a strong advocate of multilateralism and a reliable partner in addressing global challenges," Minister Ibrahimović said.In a video message, Rosemary DiCarlo, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, highlighted Montenegro's commitment to multilateralism at a time of growing global divisions."Montenegro's commitment to multilateralism, dialogue and the principles of the United Nations Charter is more important than ever," she said DiCarlo.United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk echoed this message, emphasizing that human rights, the rule of law and inclusive institutions are the foundation of every democratic and sustainable society, while encouraging Montenegro to continue advancing reforms and its European integration agenda. Looking ahead, Caroline Tissot noted that the world is undergoing profound change, making a strong and effective multilateral system more important than ever. At the same time, Montenegro is entering the final phase of its European integration journey, opening a new chapter in its partnership with the United Nations."We are jointly preparing a new Cooperation Framework for 2028–2030, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and Montenegro's national priorities. This is an opportunity to focus our support where it can make the greatest difference in people's lives and help Montenegro successfully complete its European integration process," Tissot said. The anniversary was not only an opportunity to celebrate an important milestone, but also to reaffirm a shared conviction: today's most pressing challenges – from climate change and inequality to peace and human rights – can only be addressed through cooperation.Twenty years after joining the United Nations, Montenegro continues to build a partnership founded on shared values and shared responsibility. A partnership that has shaped the country's development over the past two decades – and one that will remain just as important in the years ahead.        

Podgorica, Montenegro, 20-22 June 2026UNHCR’s Representation for Central and South-East Europe (RCSEE) marked World Refugee Day 2026 in Montenegro through a series of activities in Podgorica, bringing together the diplomatic community, students, institutions and partners around one shared message: Until Everyone Is Safe.At the centre of this year’s commemoration was a briefing for the diplomatic community at the UN Eco Building, co-hosted by the UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro, Caroline Tissot, and UNHCR’s Representative for Central and South-East Europe, Nicole Epting.Participants discussed how global displacement trends are reflected in the Western Balkans, before turning to Montenegro’s key protection priorities. The event was held in a year of particular significance: 2026 marks 75 years of UNHCR’s work in support of refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons and all those forced to flee, grounded in the principles of the 1951 Refugee Convention. Opening the briefing, Caroline Tissot underlined that World Refugee Day is not only a moment to recognize the courage and resilience of people forced to flee, but also a reminder of shared responsibility.“World Refugee Day reminds us that protecting people forced to flee is a shared responsibility. It also reaffirms a principle at the heart of the United Nations: that no one should be left behind,” said Caroline Tissot, UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro. She also stressed that refugee protection is closely linked to sustainable development and Montenegro’s wider reform path. Refugees, asylum-seekers and other displaced people must be included in education, healthcare, decent work and opportunities to contribute to society if the Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved.Presenting global protection trends, Nicole Epting recalled that forced displacement remains extraordinarily high. At the end of 2025, 117.8 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, including 41.6 million refugees and almost 9 million asylum-seekers awaiting decisions on their claims. She noted that the first decline in global forced displacement in a decade gives cautious reason for hope, but not complacency: many returns took place in fragile conditions, seven in ten refugees remain in protracted displacement, and most continue to be hosted by low- and middle-income countries. Against this backdrop, she underlined that protection needs remain acute and that solutions must be pursued with renewed determination.“Seventy-five years after UNHCR was established, the need for refugee protection remains as urgent as ever. The global figures remind us that protection cannot stop at safety from immediate danger. It must also mean access to rights, inclusion, self-reliance and real opportunities for people forced to flee to rebuild their lives in dignity,” said Nicole Epting, UNHCR Representative for Central and South-East Europe.Participants also had the opportunity to learn how global displacement trends are linked to the Western Balkans, a region that continues to be affected by major crises, including Ukraine and Sudan, and continues to serve as an important mixed-movement route towards Western Europe. For UNHCR, the trends underline the need to view movements along the route not only through a migration-management lens, but also through a protection lens.The discussion then turned to Montenegro’s protection priorities, including the asylum system, refugees from Ukraine under temporary protection, statelessness, access to rights, and reforms linked to Montenegro’s EU accession process.World Refugee Day activities also took place at the Faculty of Law of the University of Montenegro, where UNHCR marked the successful completion of the 20th annual Legal Clinic on Refugee Law and awarded certificates to this year’s students. UNHCR has cooperated with the Faculty of Law since 2007 through annual legal clinics on refugee law and statelessness. This year 90 students successfully completed the course, which included theoretical lectures, field visits and moot court sessions based on hypothetical refugee status determination cases, giving students the opportunity to step into the roles of legal professionals working on asylum claims.Addressing the students, Nicole Epting stressed that refugee law is not only a technical field, but also a human one.““You have learned why it matters that a person fleeing persecution or war can seek safety; that children can obtain documents; that families can access rights; and that the promises written in law are respected in practice,” said Nicole Epting, UNHCR Representative for Central and South-East Europe.  She encouraged students to carry the lessons of the Legal Clinic into their future careers, reminding them that “the strength of a legal system is often measured by how it treats those who are most vulnerable, least visible, and most in need of its protection.”As part of World Refugee Day commemorations, the Millennium Bridge in Podgorica was illuminated in blue on 20 and 21 June, in cooperation with the Capital City of Podgorica. The illumination sent a visible message of solidarity from the heart of the capital city to people forced to flee war, violence and persecution. UNHCR and partners also shared World Refugee Day messages through media interviews. Together, the activities in Montenegro reflected the core message of World Refugee Day 2026: protection must remain non-negotiable, inclusion must be made practical, and solutions must be pursued with determination.Until everyone is safe.
   

 Podgorica, 18 June 2026 Countering hate speech requires more than condemning harmful words. It demands a collective commitment to dialogue, inclusion and respect for human rights. On the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro and the United Nations Country Team in Montenegro call on all sectors of society to join this effort.At a time when digital platforms enable information to spread faster than ever, hate speech poses a serious challenge to social cohesion. Its impact extends far beyond the online sphere, undermining trust, weakening interpersonal relationships and eroding people's sense of belonging. Combined with disinformation, hate speech deepens social divisions, fuels discrimination and makes it more difficult to build inclusive and resilient societies."Countering hate speech is not about restricting freedom of expression. It is about protecting everyone's right to live free from discrimination, intimidation and violence. That is why institutions, media, the education system, civil society and every individual share the responsibility to promote a culture of dialogue, critical thinking and mutual respect. Only through collective action can we build a society where diversity is recognised as a strength rather than a source of division," said Tamara Vujović, Minister of Culture and Media of Montenegro.A key step in this effort is the establishment of the National Network Against Hate Speech and Disinformation, led by the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Culture and Media with the support of UNESCO. The Network is being developed under the social cohesion programme jointly implemented by UNESCO, UNICEF and UNDP, with financial support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund.Bringing together public institutions, media, academia, civil society organizations and international partners, the Network provides a platform for coordinated action to prevent and counter harmful narratives, promote responsible communication, and strengthen media and information literacy."We cannot respond to hate speech only after the harm has already been done. What is needed is a long-term, whole-of-society approach that connects education, media, culture, institutions and local communities. It is encouraging to see Montenegro building exactly this kind of collaborative model through the National Network Against Hate Speech and Disinformation, because inclusive and resilient societies are created when each of us takes responsibility for the public space we share," said Caroline Tissot, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Montenegro.The International Day for Countering Hate Speech is also an opportunity to recall that, as UNESCO consistently emphasizes, hate speech cannot be addressed solely through content moderation, removal of harmful content or regulatory measures. Long-term resilience depends on education, critical thinking and media and information literacy, enabling people to recognize manipulation, engage responsibly in public discourse and contribute to safeguarding the integrity of information in the digital space.The Ministry of Culture and Media and the United Nations Country Team in Montenegro call on institutions, media, civil society, academia and all citizens to help create a public space where diverse opinions can be expressed with mutual respect, and where human dignity remains a value that is consistently protected.