Montenegro's Cabinet Session

Podgorica, Montenegro (8 February 2018) -- At today's 61st session, chaired by Prime Minister Duško Marković, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Implementation Report of Montenegro's EU Accession Programme 2017-2018, for 2017. The Report presents the current status of realisation of all planned commitments for 2017 within the negotiating chapters and according to the institutional competence. Out of a total of 413 commitments, as planned in the previous year, 308 were implemented, which is respectively 75 percent. In the legislative part, out of 363 foreseen commitments, 262 were implemented, which is respectively 72 percent. The level of realisation of planned commitments in the strategic part is 92 percent – out of the planned 50, 46 strategic documents were adopted. It was estimated at the session that the scope and the quality of the work done point to the high institutional and administrative efficiency and ability of Montenegro to meet European goals.

The Government adopted at today's session the Sixth Semiannual Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for the Negotiating Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights for the period July – December 2017, with the Third Semiannual Report on the Implementation of the Operating Document for the Prevention of Corruption and the Sixth Semiannual Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for the Negotiating Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom, and Security for the period July – December 2017. It was noted that the reports show a high degree of realisation of the envisaged measures, which is 76 percent for the negotiating chapter 23, and 72 percent for the chapter 24, and the Government's determination to implement the planned reforms in these areas was emphasised.

The Government amended certain articles of the Regulation on Financing Projects and Programmes of Non-Governmental Organisations in the Fields of Public Interest, which prescribes the criteria and method of scoring projects and programmes in priority fields of public interest and in the field of protection of persons with disabilities implemented by non-governmental organisations. The Government decided to additionally score projects that contribute to the development of the Northern Region of Montenegro and less developed areas.

The Prime Minister assessed that this amendments are important because the Government for the first time in this field especially evaluates projects related to the Northern region and less developed areas, clearly showing the basic political determination in this area.

At today's session, the Government discussed the fourth summary Report on the Work of the Commission to monitor the competent authorities in investigating cases of threats and violence against journalists, murder of journalists and attacks on property of the media. The Government supports the work of the Media Commission and is ready to meet all its recommendations within the government's remit and in accordance with the law.

To this end, the Government adopted conclusions recommending the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office to intensify its activities and review the efficiency and effectiveness of all investigations andattacks on journalists and property of the media within 30 days, with a special emphasis on cases threatened with obsolescence in 2018.

The Government tasked the Police Authority to review the conduct of police officers in the investigation of attacks of journalists and property of the media based on the findings of the Media Commission's report and determine whether there were any omissions in their work and inform Government about this within 30 days.

The Government recommended to the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data and Free Access to Information to review, in accordance with the law, the possibility of access of members of the Commission to personal data relating to the scope of its work, which are contained in the investigation cases.

The Government tasked the Ministry of the Interior to regularly publish all reports on the work of the Commission on its website, including recommendations and conclusions on recommendations made by the Government in the forthcoming period.

At today's session, the Thirteenth Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan on the Implementation of the Strategy for the Prevention and Fight against Terrorism, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, for the period July – December 2017 was adopted as well.

The Government adopted the Programme for Stimulating a Water Management Projects for 2018, allocating an amount of EUR 1,050,000 to finance the obligations and requirements in this area. The realisation of the Programme addresses the problem of water supply of the rural population, key problems in water management and improves the international cooperation, which will contribute to improving the living conditions and development of agriculture, as well as the overall economic activity in rural areas.

A Programme for the Use of Funds for Water Resources Management for 2018 was also adopted, which envisages to spend the funds in the amount of EUR 200,000 for development of planning and project documentation in the field of water resources management, protection against harmful effects of water and support for water supply projects in anhydrous areas.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO