Cabinet’s meeting

Podgorica, Montenegro (17 April 2015) – At yesterday’s session, Prime Minister Milo Đukanović informed the cabinet about the outcome of various meetings he had with top NATO and EU officials during his official visit to Brussels. He voiced satisfaction with partnership relations between relevant European and Euro-Atlantic entities and Montenegro, bearing in mind that Montenegro is the only country in the region which is actively engaged in these two negotiation processes.

When it comes to the judiciary reform, the Government endorsed the Bill on Arbitration and amendments to the Law on Civil Procedure Code. The  Bill on Arbitration is composed of the regulations dealing with this particular kind of proceeding as one of the most important alternative mechanisms for resolving disputes, with a particular emphasis on the harmonisation of the Bbll with widely accepted UNICITRAL model. The government stressed that adoption of this law will strengthen the rule of law and attractiveness of the business environment, and Montenegro's credibility as a state which is dealing with disputes in line with highest international standards.

Amendments to the Law on Civil Procedure Code is aimed at removing shortcomings from the practice, harmonising of the law with other relevant laws form different fields and conducting the proceedings before the court in a more efficient and economic manner. Introduction of the new institutes will provide citizens with additional protection in exercising their fundamental rights, the government emphasised.

Regarding the European agenda, the Government issued the Strategy for fight against frauds and managing irregularities along with the Action Plan, in order to protect financial interests of the EU in the period 2015-2017. The Strategy is amed at providing qualitative and efficient protection of EU financial interests, which will be achieved within the coordination of the activities towards establishing normative, institutional and operative framework.

The Government also adopted reports on the implementation of measures within the Action plans for fight against corruption and organised crime. The reports are composed of the results of the implemented measures, marks on the level of the implementation of the measures during the second half of 2013 and 2014 and recommendations for further improvements in this area.

Information on foreign trade exchange of agricultural products in 2014 was also subject to the Cabinet’s meeting. Having in mind the relatively low level of import compared to export level, the government made a decision to reduce deficit by encouraging relevant ministries and institutions to propose concrete measures and projects along with their model of financing, to substitute import by domestic products or boost the export.

According to the Analysis of particular aspects of the tax policy adopted by the Government in 2014, the Government made a decision to introduce fees on retail prices of petroleum products. In that regard, the Government adopted amendments to the regulation on introducing maximum retail prices of petroleum products which prescribes fees amounting to EUR 0.07 for 1l/kg. Funds arising from the collection of this kind of fee are aimed at financing the construction of the Bar-Boljare highway and representative sports. The expected income regarding the introduction of this fee will be approximately EUR 9 million per year, the Government concluded.