Press release from 145th Cabinet session

Podgorica, Montenegro ( 28 November 2019) -- At its 145th session, chaired by Prime Minister Duško Marković, the Montenegrin Cabinet considered and passed the Draft Law on the Labour Law with a Report on Public Hearing.

The proposed systemic law, which drafting lasted three years, is the result of a dialogue between the Government and all social partners, including trade unions, associations of employers, the civil sector and the full compliance with the acquis as well.

During the discussion, it was noted that the proposed law protects good workers and responsible employers, which both requested and the Government aims in drafting the law was to provide a better position of employees directly involved in creating of a new value but do not benefit from it because of the interest of capital.

The Cabinet approved the Decision on determining the annual number of permits for temporary residence and work of foreigners for 2020, which determines the same number of working permits as in this year – 20. 454 permits and established the List of development projects for 2020, in accordance with the Law on Foreigners, which stipulates that a temporary residence permit and work permit beyond the annual quota can be issued to foreigner involved in the work on the implementation of development projects from the stipulated list.

The Cabinet passed the Draft Law amending the Law on Public Order and Peace, which is in the line with the Draft Law on the Selection, Use and Public Emphasis of National Symbols that the Government submitted to the parliamentary procedure last week.

The Cabinet passed the Draft Law amending the Law on Copyright and Related Rights with a Report on Public Hearing.

The Cabinet passed the Draft Law amending the Law on basic principles of intelligence and security sector of Montenegro. The Amendments relate to the compliance with the new Regulation on the Organisations and Method of Public Administration, which abolished the Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of the Terrorism. Also, Bering in mind that the Regulation made the Police Directorate an independent administration body, it was foreseen for the Director of the Police Directorate to be a member of the National Security Council, in order to the greater operational efficiency. In addition, in accordance with the Law on Defence, the name of the Department of Military Intelligence and Security was changed to an organisational unit of the Ministry of Defence, which performs military intelligence, counterintelligence and security affairs, and therefore it was made a technological harmonisation.

The Cabined adopted the Information on Qualitative and Quantitative Results of the 2019 summer tourist season, which indicated that this summer's tourist season exceeded last year's record by 10, 97 % in number of tourists and by 7.30 % in number of nights. Particularly successful is the fact that the record attendance was recorded in the preseason and postseason. In April and May, 25, 7 % more tourists visited Montenegro than in the preseason 2018 and in September and October 20, 2% more tourists than in the postseason 2018. During the first nine months of this year, about 7 % of tourists visited our country than in a whole of 2018.

The session concluded that information on tourism results in the future includes both preseason and postseason, as the results show a decrease in the seasonality trend, i.e. the fact that our country is becoming a year – round tourist destination.

The Information stated that Montenegrin foreign guest revenue increased by 9.27 % in the first nine months of 219 compared to the first nine months of 2018. Montenegrin airports served 8 % more passengers in the same period, while 32 % more guests visited National Parks by 20 October compared to the same period last year. The Information consists data that traffic growth in mountain municipalities increased by 24, 12 % in the first nine months of 2019 compared to the first nine months of 2018.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on activities on the implementation of a regional project for the establishment of the International Institute for Sustainable Technologies in Southeast Europe (SEEIIST) - "Hadron Cancer Therapy and Research in the area of biomedicine using protons and heavy ions". The SEEIIST project, was initiated in mid – 2017 and became probably the most serious regional development project, not only in the areas of science and health, but also with the potential to further increase the competitiveness of the region through the development of complementary technologies, especially in the area of digitalisation and green infrastructure. A very important step for the SEEIIST in 2019 was the establishment of the SEEIIST Association as a legal entity – a non – profit private entity, in accordance with the Swiss law. As the discussion highlighted, the first phase, related to the design of the project, was implemented and thanks to the first financial support from the European Commission in the amount of EUR one million, the second phase was started. In discussion, the Government members expressed strong support for the project and the efforts of Minister Sanja Damjanović.

The Cabinet adopted several Decisions on the preparation of a spatial planning documents:
The Decision amending the Decision to amend the Special Purpose Spatial Plan for the Durmitor Area will create the conditions to review the existing planning solution, with respect to the conclusions of the Joint Advisory Mission of the World Heritage Centre and the IUCN World Heritage Site to the wealth of world heritage of the Durmitor National Park, in order to a planning solution that will be based on focused and controlled development, using the natural, cultural and created potentials of this area in a sustainable manner. Within this commitment, among other things, it is necessary to significantly reduce the number and capacity of lifts and ski slopes at Savin Kuk resort, without pretending to mass ski tourism.
The Cabinet adopted the Information on the Grant Agreement for the financing of the "Technical Support to the Management of Bilateral Cross – border Cooperation Programs Montenegro – Albania and Montenegro – Kosovo 2014 - 2020" project, with a Draft of an Agreement. Presenting the information, it was announced that the total budget of the technical support projects amounts to EUR 870,000 for all three countries, which represents the contribution of the EU, i.e. co – financing of activities by the partners is not foreseen.
The Cabinet adopted the Decision to open a Consulate of Montenegro in Shkoder – the Republic of Albania, headed by the Honorary Consul and authority for the Municipality of Shkoder.

The Cabinet adopted the Decision approving the Decision on the Abolition of the Regional Organisational Unit of Terminal Flight Control Belgrade – Airport Flight Control Vršac. In the explanation of the Decision it was pointed out that in order to rationalise terminal costs and to change the operational concept of service provision, the Airport Flight Control Vršac ceases to operate at the terminal and in the air space outside the airport traffic zone where it provided flight control services, these services continue will continue to be provided by Batajnica Airport Flight Control.

 
The Cabinet verified the conclusion adopted a day before without holding a session, based on the opinions obtained by the majority of the members of the Cabinet, to refer a search and rescue team from the ruins to the Republic of Albania.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO