Public Call for Non-Governmental Organizations

Public call for NGOs to propose candidates for membership in the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)

Based on the Decision on the Establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) between Montenegro and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), adopted at the Stabilisation and Association Council between Montenegro and the EU on 20 June 2011, as well as Article 124 of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the Ministry of European Affairs announces:

PUBLIC CALL

for non-governmental organizations

to propose candidates for membership in the

JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (JCC) BETWEEN MONTENEGRO AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE (EESC)

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is an advisory body of the EU established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 and represents employers, trade unions, farmers, consumers, and other interest groups that together form organised civil society in the EU. The EESC is an integral part of the EU decision-making process and is consulted prior to decisions affecting economic and social policy, while on its own initiative it may issue opinions on matters it considers important in this field. Committee members are divided into three groups:

• The employers’ group includes members from the private and public industrial sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises, chambers of commerce, banking and insurance, trade, and agriculture;
• The workers’ group represents all categories of employees, from manual workers to managers. Members of this group come from national trade union organisations;
• The third group represents a broad spectrum of interests and interest groups: NGOs, agricultural organisations, craftsmen, non-profit associations, consumer and environmental protection associations, scientific and academic associations, etc.

The European Commission adopted the decision to establish the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) between Montenegro and the EESC on 26 April 2011, which was considered by the Stabilisation and Association Committee on 13 May 2011. The final decision on the establishment of the JCC was adopted at the Stabilisation and Association Council between Montenegro and the EU on 20 June 2011. By establishing the Joint Consultative Committee between Montenegro and the EESC, a more advanced level of cooperation was established between Montenegro, as a candidate country for EU membership, and EU bodies in which social partners and other civil society organisations prepare for future cooperation after accession. The JCC is tasked with monitoring the economic situation in Montenegro and the EU accession process.

The JCC consists of six Montenegrin representatives (two each from employers’ associations, trade unions, and NGOs) and six representatives from the EESC (two from each of the three groups). The last, 21st meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee was held on 16 December 2025 in Brussels. The costs of JCC meetings in Brussels for Montenegrin civil society representatives are covered by the state budget until EU membership.

The Ministry of European Affairs launches the procedure for selecting JCC members, who will contribute in the upcoming period, together with their EU colleagues, to the continuity of the positive impact of this body on Montenegro’s accession process. The selection of two representatives from the NGO sector will be carried out in accordance with the Regulation on the Selection of NGO Representatives in Working Bodies of the State Administration and the Implementation of Public Consultations in the Preparation of Laws and Strategies (“Official Gazette of Montenegro”, No. 41/18).

Conditions for NGOs proposing candidates for JCC membership

The right to propose candidates is granted to non-governmental organizations whose fields of activity include:

1. Democratization, anti-corruption, and the rule of law;
2. European integration;
3. Sustainable and rural development and environmental protection;
4. Protection and promotion of human and minority rights;
5. Employment policy, social issues, and civic matters;
6. Market, production, and consumer society;
7. Transport, energy, infrastructure, and information society;
8. Education, culture, and youth.

An NGO may propose a candidate if:

• It is registered in the NGO registry before the publication of this public call;
• Its statute defines activities and objectives in areas related to the issues considered or regulated by the working body;
• It is not listed in the Criminal Records Register;
• In the past three years, in relation to the issue considered or regulated by the working body, it has conducted research, prepared a document, organised an event, or implemented a project in the given area;
• It has submitted a tax return to the tax authority for the previous fiscal year (copy of balance sheet and income statement);
• More than half of the members of the NGO’s governing body are not members of political party bodies, public officials, managers, or civil servants.

Conditions for candidates applying for JCC membership

A candidate from an NGO may be a person who:

• Resides in Montenegro;
• Has experience in the field related to the issue considered or regulated by the working body;
• Is not a member of a political party body, a public official, civil servant, or employee.

The NGO, along with the candidate proposal for JCC membership, must submit:

• Proof that the NGO is registered in the NGO registry (copy of act);
• Copy of the NGO statute;
• Proof that in the past three years, the NGO has conducted research, prepared a document, organised an event, or implemented a project in the relevant area, signed by the authorized representative and certified with the NGO stamp;
• Proof of tax return submission for the previous fiscal year (copy of balance sheet and income statement);
• Statement from the authorized representative that more than half of the members of the NGO’s governing body are not members of political party bodies, public officials, managers, or civil servants;
• Copy of the personal ID or other public document verifying the identity of the NGO representative in the working body;
• CV of the NGO representative in the working body;
• Proof of experience of the NGO representative in the area covered by the working body (professional work, certificate, or other document);
• Statement from the NGO representative confirming they are not a member of a political party body, public official, manager, or civil servant;
• Statement from the NGO representative confirming acceptance of being proposed by the NGO as its representative in the working body.

Deadline and method for submitting proposals:

The deadline for submitting NGO representative proposals for JCC membership is ten days from the publication of this call.

The completed Form for Proposing NGO Representatives for JCC Membership, along with all required documentation specified in the call, must be sent exclusively by mail to the following address:

Ministry of European Affairs

Bulevar Ivana Crnojevića 167, 81000 Podgorica

With the note: “Proposal of candidates for membership in the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) between Montenegro and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)“.

Any questions regarding the procedure for proposing candidates for JCC membership can be sent by email before the submission deadline to: nada.vojvodic@mep.gov.me and nikola.lakic@mep.gov.me

The public call can be downloaded here.

MINISTRY OF EUROPEAN AFFAIRS