An initiative submitted to the local parliament in Zeta, a municipality in Montenegro, has called for the adoption of a declaration that would seek to revoke Montenegro’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence, triggering political reactions and raising questions about the legal scope of such a move at the municipal level. The proposal was formally submitted by a group of local councilors, who requested that the assembly of the Municipality of Zeta include the item on its agenda and organize a vote on the declaration.
According to the submitted proposal, the declaration would state that Montenegro should withdraw its decision recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, and it frames the issue as one of political and national importance. The initiative refers to Kosovo using the term “Kosovo and Metohija” and characterizes the recognition as a decision that should be reconsidered. The councilors who backed the proposal argued that the declaration would express the will of the citizens of Zeta and send a political message to state authorities.
The proposal was officially delivered to the municipal assembly, where it is expected to be considered in accordance with procedural rules. Local authorities confirmed receipt of the initiative, while the next steps depend on whether it will be included on the agenda and brought to a vote. The reports emphasize that the initiative is at an early procedural stage and has not yet been adopted.
At the same time, the initiative has sparked debate over the legal competence of a municipality to address issues of foreign policy. Reports note that recognition of states is a matter decided at the national level by Montenegro’s central institutions, and not within the authority of local self-government bodies. As a result, any declaration adopted by a municipal assembly would not have binding legal effect on the state’s official foreign policy decisions.
The initiative has also been framed within a broader political context in Montenegro, where questions related to Kosovo’s status remain sensitive and closely tied to internal political divisions. Supporters of the declaration present it as an expression of local political will and identity, while critics point to its lack of legal force and warn that it could deepen political tensions without producing concrete institutional outcomes.
Overall, the reports portray the initiative in Zeta as a politically symbolic move rather than a legally decisive one, highlighting the gap between local political expression and the centralized nature of foreign policy decision-making in Montenegro. While the proposal has yet to be debated or voted on, it has already opened a discussion on institutional authority, political messaging, and the limits of municipal influence over issues of international recognition.
