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Press release from 91st Cabinet session

Published on: Sep 28, 2018 3:12 AM Author: PR Service
PR Service PR Service

Podgorica, Montenegro (27 September 2018) -- At today's session, the Montenegrin Cabinet adopted the Ninth semi-annual report on the overall activities in the process of integration of Montenegro into the European Union for the period January - June 2018. The report, forwarded to the Parliament of Montenegro, contains basic information on the commitments undertaken in the context of the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the progress made in the negotiations, with a focus on chapters 23 and 24, the status of the negotiation process, as well as activities implemented in the context of political dialogue with the European Union. The discussion concluded that Montenegro has continued achieving significant results in the negotiation process with the European Union, which were affirmed by the opening of a new negotiating chapter, and that the institutions involved in the process of negotiations are continuously receiving encouraging messages and support from the member states.

The Government also adopted the Decision on the Establishment of the Working Group for the preparation and conduct of negotiations on the accession of Montenegro to the European Union in the field of the acquis communautaire relating to Chapter 25 - Science and Research, thus completing the negotiating structure for all chapters.

Within the framework of the European agenda, the Government adopted information on the plan for meeting the closing benchmarks for temporarily closing the negotiations in the chapters: 1 - Freedom of movement of goods, 3 - Right of establishment and freedom to provide services, 11 - Agriculture and rural development, 12 - Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance, 13 - Fisheries, 14 - Traffic policy, 16 - Taxes, 22 - Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments, 28 - Consumer and health protection, 29 - Customs union and 32 - Financial control. The information contains an overview of the activities carried out so far within each benchmark, as well as those that should be undertaken in order to meet the final benchmarks for temporarily closing these chapters.

The Government passed the Draft Law Amending the Law on Execution of Conditional Conviction and Punishment in the Public Interest.

Today's session also passed the Draft Law on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters with the Member States of the European Union, whose adoption would mean transferring the most important legal acts in this field from the European legislation to the domestic legal system. This will facilitate the preparation of institutions for functioning in the European institutional system and taking responsibility after full membership in the EU. The basic principles of the judicial cooperation system relate to direct communication between the judicial authorities of the member states, the introduction of a catalog of acts for which the presumption of double punishment is excluded as conditions for the recognition of court decisions, defining the procedure for the recognition of judicial cooperation instruments as an urgent procedure with strictly established deadlines for acting, which restricts the grounds for refusing recognition of a foreign court decision, while the role of the executive authority is minimised and mainly relates to the provision of administrative support and facilitation of judicial cooperation.

The Government passed the Draft Law Amending the Law on Cinematography. With the aim of aligning with the revised Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production of 2017, the draft law amends the provisions in relation to co-productions in terms of the share of States in cinematographic works with such status.

The Government adopted the Information on Environmental Protection in Montenegro in 2017, which contains assessments of the overall state of the environment and recommendations in the planning of environmental policy on an annual basis.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the implementation of the project of the first Centre of Excellence in Montenegro "Centre for Excellence in Bioinformatics (BIO-ICT) - Implementation of the project " Higher Education and Research for Innovation and Competitiveness of Montenegro (INVO)". "INVO" as a project aimed at strengthening the quality and relevance of research, supports initiatives that will enable innovation to become the pillar of developing a dynamic and relevant environment in science and research, as well as a more active role of scientific institutions, public and private enterprises in research, development and transfer technology. The project is funded from a World Bank's loan. Within the project's component called "Establishment of a Competitive Research Environment", the establishment and operation of the first, pilot centre of excellence in Montenegro, called Center of excellence in bioinformatics - BIO-ICT is geing funded. The project is being implemented in the period from 1 June 2014 to 31 October 2018 (with the possibility of extension until March or April 2019). The available budget is EUR 3,235,000, out of which EUR 2,763,000 has been spent so far.

The Government adopted the Information on the realisation of activities for the establishment of the Science and Technology Park (STP) in Podgorica. For the first time in Montenegro, a STP will be established in Podgorica, which will create an opportunity for the realisation of developmental research through linking companies with the academic sector, which will affect new employment, especially of young researchers. The STP in Podgorica should encourage the cooperation of scientific and academic institutions with the economy and the financial sector, and thus, in the most efficient way, generates innovative activities, entrepreneurship and the development of high value products. So far, 4.3 million euros have been allocated from the capital budget for its construction, and it is estimated that about 8.5 million euros have to be provided for complete construction and equipment.

At today's session, the Cabinet adopted the report on World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership activities and the implementation of CEFTA 2006 and the Free Trade Agreement with EFTA countries.

The Government adopted the Information on the implementation and effects of policies in the field of entrepreneurship and business for the period from 1 July to 30 September 2018. It was concluded that EUR 28,604,251 was spent in the third quarter for the implementation of projects and programmes through the ministries of Finance, Economy, Agriculture and Rural Development, Sustainable Development and Tourism and the Investment and Development Fund. The information includes an overview of measures, activities and effects for stimulating entrepreneurship and business, with a special emphasis on financial measures aimed at creating new jobs, supporting young people, women in business, reducing regional differences, supporting priority sectors, and further developing the business community. In addition, information shows the effects of measures on the growth of competitiveness of the Montenegrin economy, the growth of gross domestic product, the growth of real production and exports. 

The Government adopted the Information on the signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the ministries of defence of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and the United States of America regarding the participation in joint exercises and training in the territory of the members of the US - Adriatic Charter. In that context, the Government accepted the text of the Memorandum.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO
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