Press release following Cabinet meeting

At today’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, the Government confirmed a decision by the Highway Construction Council to extend the deadline for the best bidder, a Croatian consortium, to secure funding for the contraction of the Bar-Boljare Highway. At the same time, the Government concluded that the consortium had already met the requirement set by the Council, namely that they had provided the required guarantee for they bid, in the amount of €500,000, thereby meeting the requirement for a two-month extension of the deadline. In addition, the Government decided to open preliminary negotiations with the second best bidder, a Greek-Israeli consortium, which would be formalized if the Croatian consortium should fail to provide a guarantee for the funds for the construction of the highway within the extended deadline.

As part of the ongoing education system reform, the Government adopted the 2010-2014 Professional Education Strategy. The Strategy identifies the measures and activities required for the development, modernization and promotion of the quality of professional education, with a view to building a system that enables the acquisition of the qualifications necessary for labor market competition, professional advancement and continuation of education.

Furthermore, the Government adopted a Report on the implementation of the Reform of Pre-School, Elementary and Secondary Education. Having concluded that the process was developing at the expected rate, the Government underlined the importance of consistent implementation of new organizational, program-related and institutional concepts in the area of education, arguing that the reform was in the best interest of both individuals and Montenegro’s socio-economic development in general.

The 2010-2019 Road Safety Promotion Strategy was also adopted. The Strategy identifies a vision, mission, goals, key areas and the scope of responsibility of relevant authorities in charge of road safety and lays groundwork for a comprehensive reform of road transport, as a dynamic and complex system which requires adequate support and active involvement of all stakeholders. The main purpose of the complex measures set out in the Strategy is to reduce the number of deaths in road accidents by 50 per cent by 2019.

The Government also approved an Action Plan for Regulatory Reform and Promotion of Business Environment and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Montenegrin Government and the International Financial Corporation. In addition, it adopted a Decision establishing the Council for Regulatory Reform and Promotion of Business Environment. One of the Council’s chief responsibilities is to organize and coordinate activities of different public administration bodies and other relevant institutions aimed at eliminating business barriers and unnecessary regulations and procedures, in order to help individuals and businesses to save both time and money and provide for a more efficient and more rational work of the public administration.

The Government accepted a request by the Podgorica Tobacco Plant to release excise stamps on deferred payment, as a short-term support to the company to maintain production until its comprehensive reorganization is completed and conditions are created for its sustainable development.

In addition, the Government adopted the 2009 Spatial Planning Program, as well as national location studies for certain sites, laying the groundwork for tourism development of those areas.

The Government also considered a number of other issues within its purview.