LocationsMontenegro Committed to Developing a Vision for Public Administration After EU Accession
December 15, 2025
Podgorica, 15 December 2025 – Montenegro is entering a crucial phase of accession to the European Union, which requires not only commitment to completing reforms, but also a clear vision of what public administration should look like after membership.
This was announced at the opening of the two-day “Public Administration Reform Forum: Public Administration After 2028”, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro, with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom and in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration.
UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova, assessed that Montenegro is at an important moment for strengthening institutions:
“Montenegro is entering a phase that requires the completion of reforms and a clear vision of an efficient, accountable, and citizen-oriented public administration. The new strategic cycle of public administration reform is an opportunity to consolidate achieved results, improve transparency and trust, and ensure that institutions respond to citizens’ needs in the long term. UNDP remains a committed partner to the Government in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16, supporting Montenegro’s accession to the European Union by 2028, and contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Paniklova concluded.
UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova
Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj emphasized that the Ministry is aware that modernization of the public sector is not only a technical process, but also a cultural change.
“Promoting transparency, accountability, and ethics in the work of public institutions is essential for building citizens’ trust and strengthening democracy in Montenegro. With examples of good practice, the support of international partners, domestic institutions, and all segments of society, we are determined to modernize Montenegro’s public sector in line with European standards,” Dukaj stated.
Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj
The British Ambassador to Montenegro, Dawn McKen, recalled that the United Kingdom has been supporting the modernization of public administration in Montenegro for years, as well as strengthening professional standards within institutions.
“Our vision is clear. Public administration should be efficient and open, working in the interest of all citizens, free from nepotism and party pressure, with simpler and faster procedures. Montenegro has a clear European perspective, and success depends on strong institutions that protect the interests of all citizens. The United Kingdom supports this path, even though it is no longer a member of the European Union, because we share the same democratic values and the belief that strong institutions bring stability and fairness to society,” McKen emphasized.
The British Ambassador to Montenegro, Dawn McKen
Over the next two days, the Forum will bring together key stakeholders who, through technical, expert, and financial support, contribute to the modernization of Montenegro’s public sector. On the first day, sessions will be held focusing on post-accession reform, depoliticization of the bureaucracy, absorption of funds, and the development of a professional civil service.
The Forum is organized within the project “Merit-Based Employment in Public Administration in Montenegro,” implemented by UNDP with financial support from the Government of the United Kingdom and the British Embassy in Podgorica, as part of the international development program, with the aim of promoting a competent public administration and minimizing nepotism and political bias in Montenegro.
