Montenegrin Cabinet discusses preschool education, e-Government, granting forest concessions

Podgorica, Montenegro (19 November 2015) – At today’s session, the Montenegrin Cabinet adopted the Strategy of early and preschool education for the period 2016-2020. The guiding principle of the strategy is to ensure that children’s development needs are satisfied through adequate programme and infrastructural services, which are to be provided by the competent professionals, with the active involvement of parents and communities. The strategy is aimed at involving all children in preschool upbringing and education, boosting the quality of preschool education, and introducing innovative and sustainable model of financing.

The Cabinet also adopted a report on the implementation of the E-Government Act, which defines measures for further promotion of e-governance in Montenegro. The law has been enacted in order to eliminate administrative barriers, distance and time in mutual communication between the citizens, state companies and government’s bodies. According to a research carried out by the United Nations, Montenegro moved up to 57th place in 2012 from 45th place in 2014 in the world e-Government ranking list. As to the e-Government development index, Montenegro is the best ranked country in the region.

In line with the Law on Concessions, the Government adopted the draft plan for granting concessions for use of forests in 2016 in the branch offices of Pljevlja, Berane Petnjica, Žabljak, Kolašin, Plužine, Podgorica, Danilovgrad, Mojkovac, Nikšić and Rožaje. The plan was adopted in order to provide procedures for granting concessions, as an initial step in establishing transparent conditions and equality of all stakeholders and participants in the procedures. The meeting pointed out this is the way to make the best use of natural resources, and ensure rational and efficient use of forests and environmental protection.

The Cabinet was informed about the problematic assessments published in the media, which had been carried out by a part of the Brussels administration, and concluded that the issue will be the subject of communication with European partners.