Government appoints head negotiator for EU entry talks and new chief of police, takes steps to improve healthcare, public sector, economy

Podgorica, Montenegro (30 December 2011) – At yesterday’s session, the Montenegrin Cabinet introduced a number of measures aimed at restructuring the public administration for better efficiency, improving the healthcare system and boosting economic growth in 2012. The government also appointed Head of Mission to the EU Aleksandar Pejović as Chief Negotiator for EU accession and Customs Administration Director Božidar Vuksanović new acting Chief of Police.

The Economic Policy Guidelines 2012 document defines concrete development goals the Government has set in the pre-accession economic programme, which serves as a medium-term macro-economic and fiscal framework for Montenegro. The priorities in the Guidelines are the boosting of the economy’s credibility, long-term economic growth and increased employment.

The Government has restructured the public administration in a way that will enable more efficiency and interconnectedness of various departments. The thrust of the new measure, implemented in accordance with the new Law on Public Administration which the Parliament adopted in late summer, is to make most state administration bodies part of competent ministries. A number of departments have been integrated to ensure greater coordination and efficiency and to cut excess costs. As Interior Minister Brajović said in his press statement following the Cabinet meeting, the new measures are aimed at rationalisation of the administration, greater efficiency and better vertical connectedness.

The new draft law on health insurance introduces new measures to provide additional health insurance on a voluntary basis that would ensure greater security for healthcare beneficiaries.