Montenegro's Cabinet Session

Podgorica, Montenegro (2 February 2017) -- The Government of Montenegro adopted a Report on implementation of investment projects based on the Regulation on direct investments stimulation for 2016 at today's Cabinet's Session, chaired by Prime Minister Duško Marković. The Report noted that the total value of projects, for which contracts on the use of funds for encouraging direct investments were concluded, amounts to 7.18 million €, and their implementation is planned to create 253 new jobs over the next three years. It was emphasised that grants that the Government will pay for this purpose amount to a total 1.48 million € and 681.333 € was paid out so far.

The Government also adopted the Report on implementation of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan to 2020, for the period 2014-2015, as well as the Annual Plan of applying for authorisation procedure in 2017. In accordance with the obligations arising from the membership in the Energy Community, Montenegro has clearly opted for reduction of the electricity import, security of supply and reducing greenhouse gas emission. Accordingly, it was created the policy to support development of projects to produce energy from renewable resources. The national goal to reach a share of 33% of energy from renewable resources in gross final energy consumption in 2020 was set. Analysing data from Report, the Government concluded that Montenegro has almost fully achieved the set goal and decided that the admission of new requests for issuing energy permits should be suspended this year, and the activities should be focused on the processing of pending requests.

On the basis of the Law on Budget and Fiscal Responsibility and the Law on Budget of Montenegro for 2017, the Government adopted the Decision on borrowing and issuing guarantees for 2017, which created the procedural requirements for the implementation of planned financial arrangements in prescribed amounts.

The Government adopted a Programme of construction, maintenance, reconstruction and modernisation of the railway infrastructure for 2017, which allocated a total of 6.8 million € for maintenance of construction and electrical structure, traffic management and regulation. Also, the Government adopted the Decision to grant the Agreement on the obligation to provide passenger transport services in the public interest. On the basis of this Agreement, the obligation to provide passenger transport services in the public interest is given to “Railway Transport of Montenegro” for a period of one year, while the fee amounts to 2.8 million €.

The Cabinet's Session determined the Draft Law on amendments to the Law on the regularisation of informal structures. The amendments provide to postpone the application of the Law from 31 July 2017 in order to meet the necessary technical requirements.

The Government established an Action Plan for implementation of the Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings 2017-2018, setting forth the activities aimed at realisation of the strategic priorities in the fight against the human trafficking, improving the legal and institutional framework and strengthening capacities to combat trafficking.

The Government adopted an Action plan for the implementation of the UNESCO Committee’s Decision, adopted in July 2016 in Istanbul, relating to the cultural and historical area of Kotor.

The Government adopted Information on the Initiative for establishing a Transport Community in the Western Balkans and formed the Team for negotiations on this Initiative.

Within staffing issues, the Government appointed Salko Luboder as an Adviser to the Prime Minister.

Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs submitted verbal Information about the negotiations with the Republic of Azerbaijan related to the Verige Bridge construction. On this occasion, the Government obliged the Ministry to update the composition of the expert and negotiating team, given that there is an interest in the project.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO