In Montenegro last year, 743 citizenships were granted by admission, the Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS) announced and appealed for a set of laws to be regulated as soon as possible regarding the method of granting Montenegrin citizenship.
From that non-governmental organization (NGO), they recalled that they repeatedly appealed for the necessity of changing the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship as well as by-laws, with the mandatory compliance of that law with the Law on Foreigners of Montenegro as well as the Law on Residence and Stay Registers.
"The largest number of Montenegrin citizenships granted by admission was recorded in 2021, with a total number of 743 citizenships, and the year 2017, which counted 732 mentioned citizenships, had a slightly smaller number," the announcement says.
According to the data of the Directorate for Administrative Affairs, Citizenship and Foreigners, this year 324 Montenegrin citizenships were granted by admission.
CEGAS stated that, faced with constant decision-making on the criteria for determining the conditions for acquiring Montenegrin citizenship by admission, which are more an expression of political will than legally based, they appeal for a set of laws to be regulated as soon as possible.
The NGO added that they are appealing for the regulation of a set of laws related to the method of awarding Montenegrin citizenship as soon as possible.
This includes, as they said, reforms in the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship, as well as laws on foreigners and registers of residence and residence are necessary.
"It must not be allowed that the Government, of its own volition, passes by-laws that fundamentally change the basic legal decisions on the method of awarding Montenegrin citizenship, without previously having a public discussion and then no presentation before the parent committees, as well as coordination with them", it is stated. in the statement.
CEGAS recalled that decisions on the criteria for determining the conditions for acquiring Montenegrin citizenship by admission were made from year to year, and as they stated, changes to such decisions were often made several times during one year.
"These important issues require a broad dialogue of the interested public as well as decision-makers," CEGAS added.
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