Today marks 20 years since the formal end of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
On May 21, 2006, citizens of the then-common state voted in a referendum in favor of independence, effectively paving the way for the dissolution of the union with Serbia.
Under the referendum rules, at least 55% of the votes were required for independence to pass.
The pro-independence vote of the Albanian minority was considered decisive in reaching the required threshold. The Parliament of Montenegro had previously adopted the referendum law, in line with recommendations from the European Union.
Montenegro officially declared independence on June 3, 2006. On June 28, 2006, it became the 192nd member state of the United Nations, and on May 11, 2007, it joined the Council of Europe.
