Press release from 13th Cabinet session

At yesterday's session, chaired by Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, Montenegrin Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Internal Affairs with the Report on the conducted public hearing. The proposed law stipulates that the Police leave the state administration system and receive a special status within the Ministry of the Interior, which, as it was emphasized, will start the true implementation of the security sector reform. The reform process is primarily reflected in prescribing the internal organization of the Ministry and the Police, which makes the first steps towards full transparency, defining clear lines of responsibility and taking concrete actions to harmonize police actions with police standards of EU member states. The new Law also regulates issues related to the recruitment and deployment of police officers, the development of the career system, the establishment of a special system for the evaluation of police officers, as well as the use of police powers and means of coercion.

The Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on State Administration was adopted, which creates preconditions for a different organization of the Ministry of the Interior and the Police Directorate, which according to the concept from the Draft Law on Internal Affairs will be an integral part of the Ministry of the Interior, with the necessary independence and specificity in the work process.

The Cabinet adopted the Decree amending the Decree on the organization and manner of work of the state administration, which determines the scope of work of the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism and the Environment Protection Agency. The Decree stipulates that the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism prepares draft regulations in the field of ecology, spatial planning and urbanism, as well as the establishment of a national spatial data infrastructure. The Ministry will also be responsible for adopting, implementing and monitoring policy in the field of water monitoring, except for water sources and flood events, as well as protection of water from pollution, except for water source protection and flood protection, arising from obligations defined in the negotiation process under Chapter 27 - Environment and Climate Change. Furthermore, it is prescribed that the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism takes over the civil servants and part of the work related to the implementation of scientific-research national and international projects in the field of environment and spatial planning from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports. The Decree changes the scope of work of the former Nature and Environment Protection Agency, which continues to operate under a new name as the Environment Protection Agency.

The Decision on the formation of the Council for Scientific Research was adopted. As determined by the Law on Scientific Research, the Council has nine members appointed by the Government, on the proposal of the Minister responsible for science, for a period of four years. One member of the Council is appointed from among the representatives of the Ministry, and eight members from among eminent experts who contribute to the development and application of scientific research activities from the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, scientific research institutions, institutions of higher education and economy, while respecting the principle of equal representation of the field of science. Having in mind that the Council analyzes the achievements and gives expert proposals in scientific research, it was stated that the adoption of the Decision will enable further encouragement of development in this area.

The Cabinet adopted a Decision on determining the public interest in the expropriation of property for the reconstruction of the regional road R-20 Berane - Kalača, road section Berane - Petnjica, sites Berane - Stjenice and Stjenice - Podvade.

The Information on the preparation of the 2021-2025 Media Strategy of the Government of Montenegro was adopted. Based on the commitment of this Government to advocate for the availability of information, freedom of speech and freedom of the media, and to work on the implementation of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations on electoral legislation, which partly refers to this area, the Information points out that there is a need to improve media freedom, increase civic participation, generally improve media conditions, transparency, free access to information, development of media pluralism and media literacy, as stated in the Prime Minister's Programme. Having in mind the Government's commitment to provide strong support to the Montenegrin media community through the improvement of the media environment, in order to ensure conditions for their smooth work, the need for the preparation of the Media Strategy for the period 2021-2025 was stated. This Strategy will clearly define the goals, directions of development and future plans in order to provide a favorable environment for freedom of information, flow of ideas and opinions, which will lead to a regulated media market. In this way, conditions for sustainable work will be created, which will contribute to the improvement of media cooperation, professionalization and better self-regulation.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the implementation of the Concession Agreement for detailed geological research and exploitation of the mineral raw material of architectural (decorative) stone "Bobik", Old Royal Capital Cetinje, No. 07-399/1 of 16 February 2016 and accepted the Agreement on termination of the contract on concession. The Special Commission stated in the Report that by exploitation and processing of stone, i.e. it is not possible to achieve a certain profit through production of the final product - slabs, i.e. it is not technically possible to exploit the deposit with economic justification. Considering that, in accordance with the Law on Concessions, the concession relationship ends with the agreement between the grantor and the concessionaire, it was concluded that the conditions for the agreed termination of this concession agreement have been met.

The Information on the need to provide additional funds under the Project for Reconstruction of Main Roads was adopted. The programme includes the reconstruction of 216.3 km of main roads by providing funds from the general budget revenues and from the loans of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank. The financing agreement with the EBRD in the amount of EUR 40 million envisages the reconstruction of the main roads on the road sections Rožaje - Špiljani, Danilovgrad - Podgorica and Tivat - Jaz. Bearing in mind that after the completion of the project documentation, the values obtained were higher than originally estimated in the total amount of EUR 71.6 million, the Cabinet agreed to continue with the full implementation of the Programme in order to complete the tender procedure and to provide the missing amount from the capital budget or other source of funding independently of the Agreement with the European Bank.

The Cabinet accepted the Proposal for giving consent for the credit indebtedness of the Municipality of Berane with NLB bank Podgorica, in the amount of EUR 1,000,000.00.

Amendments to the Support Measures for Citizens and the Economy for the first quarter of 2021 were adopted. The subject amendments refer to the measure - Tourist vouchers for educators and health workers and support to private accommodation providers, which adds rural households engaged in hospitality services to the list of entities with the right to support.

The Proposal for repealing the Conclusion of the Government of Montenegro, number: 07-4434, of 1 October 2020, which adopted the Decision on amendments to the Spatial Plan of the Municipality of Ulcinj, was adopted. The reason for the amendments to the Spatial Plan was the Decision of the Government on the long-term lease of land in Briska Gora for the exploitation of solar energy and the construction of solar systems with an installed capacity of more than 200 mw. Having in mind the formal shortcomings in the implemented procedure of adopting the planning document, as well as the unsustainability of planning solutions from the aspect of environmental impact, it was decided not to continue the procedure of publishing the Decision in the Official Gazette of Montenegro.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the conclusion of the Protocol of Intent between the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro and the Norwegian Centre for Integrity and accepted the text of the Protocol. The Protocol envisages Norway's continuous support to Montenegro in the field of security sector reform, and one segment of that cooperation is support in building and strengthening integrity. With the adoption of the Information and the acceptance of the Protocol, the cooperation with the Center will continue, and thus the support that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence of Norway provide to the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro in strengthening integrity in the security sector.

A Decision amending the Decision on the formation of the Commission for the monitoring of operation of competent authorities in investigating the cases of threats and violence against journalists, murders of journalists and attacks on media property was adopted. The Decion appoints Mihailo Jovović as president instead of Nikola Marković, who was dismissed at his own request.