Cabinet Session: Environment, EC Progress report, Aluminum plant

Podgorica, Montenegro (1 September 2016) – The Government of Montenegro at today's session adopted a Communication on State of the Environment in Montenegro for 2015. Information gives assessment of the individual segments of the environment, based on a detailed analysis of test results and available data. Information particularly elaborates "sectorial approach", i.e. the impacts of individual economic sectors to all segments of the environment. An integral part of the Information are the measures which define activities that should be conducted in order to address the identified problems and improve existing environmental conditions in Montenegro, as well as stakeholders, including deadlines for their realisation.

The Government adopted the contribution to the European Commission's Progress Report on Montenegro for 2016 (20 May 2016 – 1 September 2016). In this reporting period, Montenegro has opened negotiations in Chapters 12 - Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy, and 13 - Fisheries. The effective implementation of obligations under the SAA, in accordance with the established schedule, is also provided.

The Government considered and adopted the Information on how to resolve problemmes arising in the implementation of the Law on Settlement of Debts to workers of the Aluminum Plant, which are, due to the bankruptcy of the company, entitled to age pension. Recalling its earlier conclusions on this issue, the Government adopted new conclusions to be communicated to the Assembly and duly published.

The Government adopted the Information on the implementation of the procedure for exercising the right to compensation based on the birth of three or more children. Minister of Labour and Social Welfare should form a working team tasked with monitoring the implementation of new procedure in the social welfare centres. Social welfare centres are responsible to promptly act on second instance decisions of the Ministry, or conduct new procedure in the case that the parties present new evidence regarding their unemployment based on the records of the Employment Office of Montenegro and submit them to the competent employment bureau, for the re-evaluation of evidence and issuance of new certificates of time spent on the unemployment register.

Having considered the briefing of the Personnel Commission President Predrag Bošković about the problemme of carrying out normal functions in the Employment Office of Montenegro and the Transport Directorate after the resignations of the opposition representatives from managerial positions in these institutions, the Government commissioned the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Boris Marić, in cooperation with Vukica Jelić, controller in the Employment Office, to enable the payment of wages and salaries to the particular category of persons from the Employment Office's records. The Government also commissioned the Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs Ivan Brajović to ensure the performance of regular duties in the Transport Directorate, as a body within the Ministry.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO