Be Responsible campaign successful and marches on: 500.000 euro collected in phase I thanks to citizens reports of grey economy

Podgorica, Montenegro (4 June 2014) – In the first six months of the “Be Responsible. Zero Grey Economy” campaign, Montenegrins reported over 1.500 irregularities related to grey economy to the authorities, which resulted in collecting 500.000 euro in fines. Owing to the success of the phase I of the campaign, the Government has decided to extend it by the end of 2014.

The campaign involves assigning half of this sum (250.000 euro) to five community projects proposed and voted on by citizens, which are related to purchasing medical equipment for hospitals, redesigning three day-care centres for children with disabilities, landscaping a park, reconstructing an old persons' home, and buying equipment for kindergartens.

The continuation of the campaign will enable further collection of funds for socially beneficial projects, which will again be voted on by citizens. To this end, a new round of consultations with citizens and institutions will take place, and a new category will be introduced within the Be Responsible mobile and web app during the summer season – irregularities at beaches and other swimming areas.

The “Be Responsible” campaign is part of the project “Citizen Involvement in Fight against Grey Economy,” which is being implemented by the Government of Montenegro, Faculty of Electrical Engineering Podgorica, and UNDP Montenegro. Since May 2014, the project is also supported by the UK Embassy in Podgorica, which has provided funds for the continuation of an active public campaign.