Montenegro Cabinet's session

Podgorica, Montenegro (3 June 2016) – At the beginning of yesterday's session of the Montenegrin Cabinet, Prime Minister Milo Đukanović wished successful work to new members of the Cabinet, who took office under the Agreement on creation of conditions for free and fair elections.

The session discussed proposals for appointment, or involvement of the opposition in the state administration, funds, departments, institutions and management of companies with majority state ownership and companies founded by the local government, on the basis of a single opposition list, which, in line with the Law on the implementation of the Agreement on creation of conditions for free and fair elections, were forwarded by DEMOS, SDP and GP URA. In that regard, it was concluded to perform additional consultations on issues related to the participation of the opposition in the centres for social work in the municipalities of Podgorica, Nikšić, Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje, Berane, and local financial authorities in Berane and Rožaje. Nomination of Inspector General of the National Security Agency was submitted to the ordinary legislative procedure, while other proposals from the unique list were accepted.

The Government approved the Contribution to the European Commission’s Progress Report on Montenegro for the period 1 September 2015 - 20 May 2016. The document contains information on the most important activities in the field of European integration over the past seven months and servers as a basis for the EC progress report on Montenegro. Following the usual practice, the document deals with political and economic criteria and Montenegro’s ability to assume obligations of EU membership for all 33 negotiating chapters.

The Cabinet also discussed priority development projects in the fields of agriculture and tourism. Deputy Prime Minister Milorad Vujović and ministers Raško Konjević, Goran Danilović and Boris Marić excluded their opinions with respect to these items, due to, as stated by the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, insufficient risk assessment. The Prime Minister concluded this agenda item by saying that all suggestions when it comes to reducing risk are welcome and that members of the Cabinet are obliged to present them. He added he is absolutely convinced that the reduction of risks is in common interest. DPM Vujović requested additional information about the "Kristal Riviera" hotel, and the Cabinet tasked the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism and the Directorate for Inspection to check out the information presented by Deputy Prime Minister Vujović.

The Government also considered the Information on the work of the Commission for the monitoring of work of competent authorities in investigating cases of threats and violence against journalists, murders of journalists and attacks on media property. By the same token, the Cabinet accepted the Minister of the Interior Goran danilović’s initiative to announce a reward for the purpose of collecting information on the assassination of Duško Jovanović, editor in chief of the DAN daily and tasked the Minister of the Interior to draft and submit the proposal to the Government.

Upon the initiative of Minister Danilović to set up a new commission, the Government tasked the Minister to carry out all the necessary consultations when it comes to the Proposal for the establishment of the temporary parliamentary commission for monitoring the investigation of cases of endangering security of journalists and media outlets.

The Interior Minister suggested that part of future sessions of the Government should be open to the public. It was concluded that the Minister should make a proposal in line with the procedure.