On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Montenegro once again marks the occasion without progress in establishing a systemic approach or having the key data necessary for effectively combating poverty. The country lacks accurate data on the number of people living in poverty, the number of homeless individuals, and the number of those without access to basic living conditions – such as electricity, running water, sanitation, and safe housing – all of which prevents efficient planning and implementation of public policies.

Despite numerous warnings from both domestic experts and the international community, Montenegro has still not adopted a Strategy for Combating Poverty, nor is the development of such a strategy planned within the Government’s Mid-Term Work Program for 2024–2027. Additionally, no by-law has been adopted to regulate the care of homeless persons, their rights, or their access to services. As a result, social work center staff still lack clearly defined protocols for working with this most vulnerable group.

Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to rise relentlessly. Inflation in September 2025 was 4.9%, while the union’s consumer basket for a family of four cost €2,000 already in the first quarter of the year. At the same time, total monthly social assistance for such vulnerable families amounts to €227.51 (€167.51 in material support + €60 child allowance), which is only 11.4% of the amount needed to cover basic monthly expenses. In other words, the aid provided by the state is insufficient to cover even two consumer baskets over the course of a year, making it clear that the social protection system is deeply inadequate.

What is particularly concerning is that Montenegro has still not implemented the recommendations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights from 2014, even after an entire decade. At that time, the United Nations Committee urged the state to increase social benefits, ensure access to basic services, and establish a system for monitoring the realization of economic and social rights. To our knowledge, none of these recommendations have been implemented.

In February, the Human Rights Action (HRA) protested the rejection of amendments proposed by MPs from the Social Democrats (European Alliance) to the Draft Budget Law of Montenegro for 2025.

These amendments called for increased material support for the most vulnerable groups and free transportation and school meals for children from disadvantaged families. The amendments were rejected without explanation, even though they could have been funded by reducing expenses for official travel, representation, and consultancy services – without increasing the overall budget expenditures.

We once again call on the responsible Government to urgently undertake reform of the social protection system. It is necessary to:

• increase the amount of social assistance in line with the real cost of living,
• adopt a Poverty Reduction Strategy with measurable goals,
• establish a transparent data collection system to enable better planning and implementation of public policies.

Without these steps, Montenegro will not be able to guarantee basic economic and social rights to its citizens, nor fulfill the international obligations it has undertaken as a member of the United Nations.