Government is tightening control: There will be no more privileged businessmen, we are starting with the biggest ones

At today's Cabinet session, Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić said that there will be no more privileged businessmen in Montenegro, that the state must become an organised and strong system that will, in accordance with all laws, conduct comprehensive control of all cash flows. Therefore, the Cabinet discussed the Information on the need for enhanced supervision of the operations of companies by the competent inspection bodies and adopted the following conclusions:

1. The Revenue and Customs Administration and the Administration for Inspection Affairs are instructed, starting from 15 July 2021, to take all necessary measures and start with the implementation of detailed controls and enhanced supervision of taxpayers' operations , especially from the aspect of application of the Law on fiscalisation in trade of products and services, as well as detailed controls primarily of those companies, which in previous years were privileged, creating a monopoly on the Montenegrin market.

2. The Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare is instructed to weekly inform the Government of Montenegro on the undertaken activities of the Revenue and Customs Administration and the Administration for Inspection Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media.

3. The Administration for Inspection Affairs and the Revenue and Customs Administration, as well as other state administration bodies performing inspection activities in certain areas, are instructed to create additional financial and personnel preconditions for strengthening the capacity of inspection bodies in order to fulfill the obligations of enhanced control, i.e. supervision over the operations of the part of the economic sector that is suspected of not fulfilling its legal obligations.

It was stated that the tourist season started very successfully, which speaks in favour of the recovery of Montenegrin tourism.

Increased inspection supervision will be in the main tourist centres from Ulcinj to Herceg Novi, especially in order to control the application of the Law on fiscalization in trade of products and services. The Government expects positive effects from the application of that law, when it comes to reducing the grey economy, and it decided to intensify the inspection control because it suspects irregularities in a number of businessmen.

A part of the economy, well known to the public, which in previous years had a privileged position under the former regime, is trying to continue the old practice, so that part of the economy will be subject to rigorous supervision of the Revenue and Customs Administration and the Administration for Inspection Affairs. The environment of fair market competition and the creation of equal opportunities for all businessmen and entrepreneurs who want to operate legally in Montenegro, is a priority of this Government. There will be no more privileged businessmen!

The Government cultivates and will cultivate a partnership with companies that are ready to respect the law and obligations towards the state, which are guided by tax responsibility, as the supreme form of patriotism. The Government will wage an uncompromising fight against those who subordinate obligations and business to the privileges of inherited practice and try in various ways to keep the monopoly they had.