Montenegro

Conscription currently imposed?

No

Abolished 2006 (on independence) by Presidential decree.

May be reinstated in time of war (see below)

Conscientious objection first recognised

1992

Constitution of Serbia and Montenegro, Article 58 (preserved in Article 48 of the 2007 Montenegro Constitution)

CO release of professional soldiers

–

Not known.

Minimum recruitment age

18

 

Population

Total

% males 15-19

Thus approx. annual cohort reaching 18

602,000

3.1

3,732

Armed forces

Total strength

Of which conscripts

Compared to annual cohort above

2,885

-

77.3%

Military expenditure

$ (% change from 2022)

Per capita

% of GDP

$115m (+16.8%)

$182.9

1.6%

Current situation

Feedback from the state

From the reply of the Montenegrin Ministry of Defence to the EBCO questionnaire:

Montenegrin legislat­ion does not predict the existence of mandatory military service. By the decision of the President of Montenegro, conscription and mandatory military service were abolished in 2006.

The Law on the Army stipulates that in conditions of war or state of emergency, the Ministry of Defense may call citizens for training to acquire the necessary knowledge to perform duties in conditions of war or state of emergency. All Montenegrin citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 are subject to this obligation, regardless of gender. A citizen who, due to his faith and conviction, is not ready to participate in military duty that involves the use of weapons, has the right to conscientious objection, but the Law on the Army does not prescribe alternative service in case of a request for conscientious objection.

The Law on the Army stipulates the possibility of voluntary military service for up to six months. In addition, the Law stipulates that in this case the Ministry of Defense publishes a public advertisement for the selection of persons for voluntary military service. Registered candidates are required to complete the medical examination and selection procedure. The Ministry accepts the best-ranked candidates for voluntary military service. The number of persons referred to voluntary military service is limited. In recent years, the Ministry of Defense has not invited citizens to voluntarily serve in the military. Staffing of the professional armed forces was carried out by recruiting persons without military experience from the labour market.

There is no compulsory military education in Montenegrin secondary schools. In addition, the curriculum of secondary schools does not contain mandatory topics that can represent preparation for military conscription.