Why are 70 percent of young people thinking of leaving Montenegro?

The data that 70,3 percent of young people are considering leaving Montenegro does not surprise Adela, a student at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Podgorica, because, she says, "the state gives young people the least opportunities for a better future."

"Most of them go either to America or to some European countries geographically closer to us, and I'm thinking of leaving because I don't see any prospects here," said student Adela to Radio Free Europe (RSE).

Montenegrin Prime Minister Duško Marković briefly commented on this data for RSE, saying that it "means that the borders are opening, the world is opening up, the offers are better".

He said this in passing, on the sidelines of a meeting on the economy, in Budva, where he otherwise refused to answer journalists' questions.

Today, RSE did not receive any comments from other state institutions on the data from this research. The government's Directorate for Youth in the Ministry of Sports did not respond to the letter sent, and the head of the Office for Regional Youth Cooperation (RYCO) in Montenegro, Edin Koljenović, did not respond to RSE's questions.

At the regional economic conference in Budva, Prime Minister Marković spoke about the latest demographic trends, asserting that "even when we create conditions for higher wages and when we build better roads, it may not be enough for young and educated people to stay here."

"All together, we need a more attractive social and economic environment as our goal. We need creative jobs, an active nucleus of scientific and research thought, new knowledge, credible international partners and centers of economic activity that will attract not only our own but also residents of neighboring countries. This is the only way we can respond to contemporary demographic challenges," said Marković.

"I think that out of these 70 percent, most want to leave for financial reasons because, you know, we all have someone who went to the USA through the 'Work and Travel' program and in four months they can earn an amount that cannot be earned in Montenegro not even in five years," says a young man who participated in a survey by a British foundation and who completed his studies in Turkey.

Nada Drobnjak from the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) told RFE/RL that the research conducted by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in Montenegro is alarming. Drobnjak believes that we should work with young people and hear what their wishes are and what kind of society they want to live in.

"The data in the research that more than 70 percent of young people are thinking of leaving Montenegro is alarming. It requires additional thinking and conversations with young people, because we did not get answers through the research as to whether they want to go abroad to improve and to return and live in Montenegro or is it a wish that they want to leave and not return. That, in my opinion, is very important to know," said MP Nada Drobnjak.

On the part of the opposition, the data of the latest survey are considered alarming.

'Montenegro is losing the best part of its population and is becoming a country of the elderly'

The head of the Citizens' Movement United Reform Action (URA), Dritan Abazović, told RFE/RL that the negative trends regarding the departure of young people from Montenegro continue.

"After Germany gives additional relief on March 1, 2020, I think the exodus of Montenegrin citizens will be even greater. Personally, as morbid as it sounds, I think that the policy of this government is to drive young people out of here. This is definite, because that you have consistently negative indicators and that your policy is not coordinated at all in relation to young people, it only says one thing - that young people who need to produce new value should not live here and that this country should become the exclusivity of the few who are likely to find workforce from other countries that will service their needs," Abazović said.

Ivan Vujović from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) believes that "it is an understatement to say that these are alarming data", and that they show "what the social environment is like in Montenegro, in general".

"It's not just because there are no jobs and economic prospects, but because of a broader injustice that exists in society and where progressive young people do not see space to use their talent. We know about various forms of political discrimination, we know about various forms of nepotism and clientelism. Black Today, ironically speaking, Montenegro has reached the highest standards when it comes to clientelism, nepotism and injustice in general, I would say, since the establishment of a multi-party system in the nineties of the last century. When it comes to the position of young people and their right to a decent life, Montenegro has reached the standards which are worse than the war years of the last century", believes Ivan Vujović from the SDP.

According to the results of the research "Perception and attitudes of young people about politics in Montenegro", over 60 percent of young people believe that membership in a party is crucial for career success, while 30 percent of them would agree to vote for a certain political party out of convenience. 55,3 percent agree that personal rights and freedoms are not respected in Montenegro, while 48,6 percent of them believe that politicians do not take them into account at all.

URE leader Dritan Abazović points out that he is worried because Montenegro is losing the best part of its population and is becoming, as he says, a country of the elderly.

"If we add that the economic indicators in Montenegro are such that the next year and 2021 will be fiscally more difficult than the previous three. If in such a situation we do not expect even more young people to leave - then we are living in a delusion. Montenegro is not a country that has million population, even the smallest number of departures is felt here because these are people who can produce new values," says Abazović and concludes:

"If there was even minimal responsibility, I think that all the resources of the Government and others should be directed to stop that process at the beginning. And in a long-term projection, bring it to the level known by other countries of the world".

Trends about the departure of young people from Montenegro have been going on for years. Although there is no official data on the number of young people involved, nor an answer as to whether they are going abroad for training or want to stay permanently, the Montenegrin non-governmental sector has been warning the authorities to take urgent measures for years.

Previous data from the NGO Center for Civic Education (CGO) from the Youth Study published in August of this year showed that 50 percent of young people are thinking of leaving Montenegro.

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