Montenegro's Cabinet Session

Podgorica, Montenegro (15 February 2018) -- At today's 62nd session, chaired by Prime Minister Duško Marković, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Work Programme of the Government for 2018.

In 2018, the Government of Montenegro will continue to implement programme tasks that are clearly set at the beginning of its charge. In the field of economic policy, in 2018, the Government will continue to implement measures to strengthen the country's macroeconomic stability, in particular the consolidation of public finances and the enhancement of the stability of the financial sector, to address structural problems in the economy, that is to remove key obstacles to improving the country's competitiveness and increasing potential economic growth in the middle and long term. The projected investment cycle and the implementation of capital infrastructure projects will increase the potential for economic growth, primarily in the areas of road infrastructure, energy, tourism and agriculture, with a multiplier effect on all economic sectors. Such dynamics will lead to employment growth and opening up new opportunities to accelerate economic growth.

Public administration reform is treated as one of the strategically important areas in the Programme, while the modernisation of public administration and the provision of fast and reliable public services are indispensable components of the incentive entrepreneurial environment and the assumption of ensuring a better standard of living for all citizens.

Within the foreign priorities, the Government will be dedicated in particular to the implementation of security policy in accordance with NATO standards, as well as meeting all obligations arising from EU membership negotiations, while developing bilateral and multilateral cooperation, strengthening regional cooperation and pursuing a policy of good neighborly relations.

The continuation of reforms in the field of justice is planned, as well as strengthening of administrative capacities in all areas of government policies, with a special emphasis of strengthening capacities within the institutions responsible for the fight against corruption and organised crime.

Also, the Programme clearly defines tasks and projects in the field of health, social policy, labor market, education, science and sports.

The Work Programme of the Government for 2018 includes 23 priority development projects and 247 obligations from the thematic and normative part.

At today's session, the Government adopted the Medium-term Work Programme of the Government 2018-2020 and established the Draft Programme for Montenegro's Accession to the European Union 2018-2020.

The Government adopted the Decisions on the establishment of working groups for preparing and conducting negotiations on Montenegro's accession to the European Union in the field of Aguis Communautaire relating to Chapter 14 – Transfer Policy and Chapter 21 – Trans-European networks. The decisions determine the change in the personal composition of the working groups, in order to respond to the current challenges of the negotiation process in a more comprehensive and high-quality manner.

For the purpose of terminological harmonisation of certain concepts and full implementation of the IPARD II Programme, the Regulation on Amendments to the Regulation on the Implementation and Procedure for the Use of Funds from the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance (IPARD II Programme) was adopted. By the entry into force of the Regulation, the last condition for issuing public calls is fulfilled, which will be available to Montenegrin farmers in the amount of EUR 10,000,000.00  in 2018.

The Government adopted the Support Programme for the Modernisation of the Manufacturing Industry 2018-2020. The Support Programme implies the realisation of the planned investment – the purchase of equipment, partially or completely, through a loan arrangement with the Investment and Development Fund of Montenegro, whereby the potential beneficiary can obtain the right to a subsidy of up to 20 percent of the value of the equipment.

The Government adopted the Information on Requirements for Successful Implementation of the IPARD II 2014-2020 Programme, within which a total of EUR 51,816,473 of grant will be available to Montenegrin farmers, EUR 39 million of which are EU funds, while national co-financing amounts to EUR 12,816,473.

The Annual Report on Implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (2017-2021) in 2017 was also adopted at today's Cabinet session.

The Government adopted the Information on Implementation of the Decision of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in relation to the registration of “Venetian Fortifications from the 16th to 17th Century” on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Government also adopted the Initiative for the Construction of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro, thus creating the planned assumptions for the transformation of the existing Centre for Contemporary Art of Montenegro.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO