Press release from 83rd Cabinet session

Podgorica, Montenegro (28 June 2018) -- At the beginning of the 83rd Cabinet session, Prime Minister Duško Marković expressed satisfaction with a 4,5% GDP growth in the first quarter of this year, noting that this is the result we can be proud of as it was achieved in the quarter in which, due to holidays and the beginning of the year, it is most difficult to achieve success.

"We have a good growth rate we have to be proud of. This was not made by chance, but through commitment of the Government, ministries and your teams! Let this be a guide to our efforts to reach 5% by the end of 2018," said Prime Minister Duško Marković at the beginning of the session.

The Cabinet adopted the Spring Analysis of Macroeconomic Trends and Structural Reform, which includes the implementation of economic policy in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018. When presenting the analysis, it was pointed out that, according to quarterly preliminary data of Monstat, GDP in 2017 amounted to EUR 4,236.6 million, with a real growth of 4.4%, and that the fiscal consolidation measures in the first year of application yielded positive results.

Today’s session also passed the Communication Strategy – Montenegro member of NATO for the period until 2020, with the Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy by the end of 2018. The first strategic document defines directions, goals, channels and other parameters of communicating Montenegro as a NATO member that are in line with the priorities of the country in the Alliance and are directed both to domestic and international public, as well as to the activities within the state administration system.

The Communication Strategy is conceived as an umbrella strategic document that sets out guidelines for the implementation of communication activities whose main goal is to improve the perception of Montenegro as a NATO member by raising the level of understanding of all aspects of Montenegro's membership in NATO. The approach defined by the strategy avoids forms of a classic campaign with promotional activities and promotes a more modern approach that puts emphasis on social networks, short and effective messages, video recordings and smaller public events for specific target audiences.

The Government adopted the Information regarding the establishment of the Regional Commission for the Establishment of Facts on War Crimes and Other Serious Violations of Human Rights Committed in the Territory of the former SFRY from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 2001 (RECOM), which is in compliance with the announcement made by the Prime Minister at the last week's meeting with the representatives of the Initiative when the Prime Minister pledged full support of Montenegro for the Initiative. Ministry of Foreign Affairs was tasked to continue its activities towards the signing of the Agreement/Declaration on the Establishment of RECOM. PM Marković emphasised that Montenegro's accession to this initiative represents a clear position of the State and its overall policy, and that Montenegro had previously been the leader of this kind of commitment. RECOM will be established as an interstate commission set up by the states of the former SFRY. It will be independent of its founders and will be financed from donations.

The Government adopted the Information on the status of implementation of the recommendations from the European Commission auditors' reports on programmes implemented through decentralised and/or indirect management of IPA funds with relevant action plans, as well as specific information on the implementation of activities and projects implemented through this system and projects in the area of transport within the implementation of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the loan arrangement between the European Investment Bank and the Investment and Development Fund of Montenegro to finance small and medium-sized enterprises and priority projects IV-A (FI 89.293 (ME)), which provides a total of EUR 150 million for financing small and medium-sized enterprises and priority projects.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO