Montenegro's Cabinet Session

Podgorica, Montenegro (14 September 2017) -- The Government of Montenegro held today its 40th session, chaired by Prime Minister Duško Marković.

In order to comply with the EU Acquis and in accordance with the recommendations of the European Commission, the Government adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Central Bank of Montenegro and the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Current and Capital Transactions with Foreign Countries. At the same time, determined amendments to these laws are in compliance with other legal provisions at the national level, and the draft laws incorporate provisions for which there is a need in the practical application.

In accordance with the obligation to inform the Parliament of Montenegro about the dynamics of the European integration process, the Government adopted the Seventh Semi-annual Report on overall activities in the process of Montenegro’s integration into the European Union, for the period January-June 2017. During the presentation of the Report, it was pointed out that Montenegro continued to record notable results in the negotiation process in the first half of 2017, which were confirmed by the decision to open two new negotiating chapters (1) Free Movement of Goods and (22) Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments, as well as temporary closure of the negotiation in Chapter 30 – External relations, the final benchmarks for which were previously obtained. Bearing in mind the European Commission’s decision not to publish ratings and recommendations through country-specific reports this year, as it has done so far, it was estimated that the statements of the officials from the Stabilisation and Association Council meeting held in June in Luxembourg are particularly encouraging for further work.

Information on the need for signing of the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs was adopted. The Convention extends the existing mechanisms of the Council of Europe in the fight against human trafficking, urging governments to criminalise certain behaviors, thereby expanding the corpus of criminal offenses in this area and identifying criminal offenses related to trafficking in human organs.

The Government adopted the Information on the establishment of a list of three candidates for the election of a judge of the European Court of Human Rights.

The Government adopted at today's session the Information on the debt at the German Development Bank (KfW), for the needs of the Capital City of Podgorica, in connection with the implementation of the project “Collection and treatment of wastewater in Podgorica, phase I”. The Government also adopted the Draft Standard Loan Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and KfW Bank in the amount of EUR 5 million, as well as Draft Agreement on a Promotional Loan between the Government of Montenegro and KfW Bank in the amount of EUR 30 million. The aim of the project is to improve the collection and treatment of wastewater in Podgorica, with an affordable cost, in an environmentally sustainable way. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the protection of the environment, in particular the local and regional watercourses that are located downstream, and to improve the living conditions of the citizens. The Information indicates that negative impacts on the environment will be reduced as the new location will be out of the urban areas.

The Government adopted the Draft Agreement on Gift and Draft Mandate Agreement between the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro and the Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany on the donation of six light-armored vehicles for the needs of the Army of Montenegro and Draft Grant Agreement between the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro and the United States Embassy, Office for Defence Cooperation. Germany grants to the Army of Montenegro six vehicles Mercedes Benz off-road model G 280 CDI LAPV 5.4 in the total value of EUR 2,250 million, and US grants to the Army of Montenegro equipment for the removal of mines and explosives, worth about EUR 200,000.

The Government adopted the Information on realisation of the project of the first Centre for Excellence in Montenegro “Centre for Excellence in Bioinformatics (BIO-ICT) – Realisation of the project Higher Education and Research for Innovation and Competitiveness of Montenegro (INVO)”

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO