Deputies of the Social Democrats (SD) of Montenegro submitted to the procedure amendments to the Draft Law on the Census of Population, Households and Dwellings, which foresee the holding of the census in November next year at the earliest, and which also foresee that issues related to religion, nationality and language will not be an integral part of the population census.
"According to international recommendations and current practice, the two months suitable for the census when it comes to Montenegro are April and November, because it should be taken into account that this is the period when the majority of the population resides in their usual place of residence, that winter should be avoided, given that, due to weather conditions, it may be difficult or impossible to reach certain populated areas, as well as that the census should be held in a period when there are no significant political events, i.e. elections", said the SD.
They also state that considering that presidential and extraordinary parliamentary elections are expected in Montenegro in the first half of next year, the census should be held in November 2023 at the earliest.
Speaking about removing the question of national or ethnic affiliation, religion and mother tongue, the Social Democrats emphasize that the census must be conducted in an atmosphere devoid of tension, and that the entire process must be freed from political influence.
In this sense, citing the practice in numerous EU countries, and the fact that the Regulation of the European Parliament does not define these questions as mandatory during the census, the Social Democrats suggest that they should not be asked during the next census.
The party states that they do not collect data on nationality: Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Slovenia, Iceland. Data on religious affiliation are not collected by: France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Iceland, United States of America, Canada, Russia. Language data is not collected by: Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Slovenia, Iceland, United States of America. "Practically, only 1/3 of the EU countries collect all the three mentioned data".
"What, of course, should be paid special attention to is the protection and affirmation of the rights of the peoples that the Montenegrin legislation defines as minorities. In this sense, and given that the percentage of members of these national communities does not record significant changes, as stated by numerous relevant studies, they can be used data from previous censuses. In the event that there are major demographic changes, which are regularly monitored by official statistics, the percentages of minority peoples at the state and local levels can be checked through the implementation of appropriate official surveys, as foreseen by the EU legislation," their statement states. .
SD assessed that the population census is a very important activity for every country, because numerous public policies are created on the basis of the results obtained, such as regional development policy, social policy, educational and health policy, population ie demographic development policy, life protection policy environment, etc.
"That is why it is extremely important that through the population census the quality data necessary for the creation of these policies is obtained and that the collection of some other data in the census does not negatively affect those that should be used for planning key public policies," said the party.
The proposed amendment solutions, as stated by the SD, aim for Montenegro to follow the modern statistical practices of the overwhelming majority of developed countries, i.e. societies where the highest degree of development of democratic values and practices has been achieved so far.
"Because of all of the above, it is of great importance that the census be held and that Montenegro receives quality and credible data, but also that the census be devoid of inappropriate political influences and prioritizing issues that have no statistical significance," the announcement reads. .
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