Government amends laws on road transport, foreigners, establishes centre of excellence, discuss pension reform

Podgorica, Montenegro (6 December 2013) – At yesterday's session, Montenegro's Cabinet approved the Bill Amending the Law on Road Transport. The innovated legal solutions will harmonise requirements for obtaining a license to access the profession with those in the EU countries. Furthermore, they will create a legal basis for developing a database of local carriers licensed for international passenger transport that competent EU authorities will have access to. The proposed solutions aim to preclude any possible abuse by domestic and foreign carriers, thus creating unique conditions for market operations.

The Cabinet also approved the Bill Amending the Law on Foreigners. The amendment envisages that the deadline for filing applications for permanent residence for displaced persons from former Yugoslav republics and internally displaced persons from Kosovo will be extended to 31 December 2014. Having in mind the Government’s commitment to resolving this issue in a lasting and sustainable manner, the Interior Ministry will, in cooperation with relevant international organisations dealing with the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons, draft an action plan of activities to be implemented in 2014, with a view to resolving their legal status.

Concerning objective circumstances caused by the economic crisis and its impact on public finances, the Government of Montenegro approved the Law Amending the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance. The proposed amendment provided for that the amount of pensions in 2014 will be kept at the same level, in order to, according to the budget and realistic sources of funding, provide regular funding of these rights in 2014. Also, the Government adopted the Analysis of the Pension System, recommending necessary continuation of reforms in order to ensure long-term sustainability, safety and adequacy of the existing pension system. To this end, the Government defined more specific tasks for the relevant departments.

Within the project Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Montenegro’s Competitiveness, the Government approved the information on establishing the first Centre of Excellence that should enable linking knowledge, research and innovation, and closer relationship between research and industry, as well as the creation of a new generation of scientific and technological talents through their employment and training for research. The first centre of excellence will be financed from the World Bank’s loan in the amount of a grant up to EUR 3.7 million and is planned to be launched in March 2014.

Government also adopted the information on the implementation of a loan totalling to EUR 100 million and Eurobond issue worth EUR 80 million.