Press release from the 21st Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held its 21st session today, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, where it approved the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Obligations. The proposal aims to align with the Law on Same-Sex Life Partnership. The proposed amendments enable courts to award fair compensation for mental anguish to same-sex partners and immediate family members in cases of death or severe disability resulting from violations of personal rights. Additionally, same-sex partners are recognised similarly to spouses in cases of harmful actions by one partner towards a creditor, with the statute of limitations not applying during the duration of their partnership. The amendments also extend recognition to same-sex partners in various contractual matters such as gift agreements, property distribution during lifetime, and insurance contracts, similar to marital spouses.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Non-Contentious Proceedings, prescribing the same rights and obligations for same-sex life partners as those envisaged for marital spouses. These include procedures related to the restoration and revocation of legal capacity, entry of data in death certificates, handling of inheritance matters, presence of witnesses when drafting wills, and the content of inheritance decisions.

The Cabinet adopted a Decree on the conditions, methods, and dynamics of implementing agricultural policy measures for 2024 – Agrobudget. The Regulation creates conditions for the full application of the provisions of laws regulating agricultural policy measures, aiming to support agricultural households, associations of agricultural producers, and cooperatives to ensure income, enhance the competitiveness of Montenegrin agriculture, improve living conditions in rural areas, strengthen institutional capacities, achieve EU food safety standards, and bolster the fisheries sector. The financial statement for the Agrobudget for 2024 amounts to €75,064,097, sourced from the national budget (€51,354,861), donations (€15,559,235), and credit funds (€8,150,000).

The Cabinet adopted an Information on the need to establish the National Commission for the Control of Temporary Incapacity for Work and issued a Decision on the establishment of the National Commission.

The Cabinet also approved the opening of the Consulate of Montenegro in Lovech, Republic of Bulgaria. Given the traditionally friendly relations between Montenegro and Bulgaria, the establishment of the Consulate in Lovech aims to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries. The Consulate's main activities will focus on fostering economic and tourist cooperation and promoting Montenegro, its culture, and overall potential in this part of Bulgaria.

The Cabinet approved the utilization plan of the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management for 2024. The plan outlines projected revenues of €24,022,581, sourced from fees for maritime property use, ferry operations, and other non-business income. Expenses, totaling the same amount, include investment and maintenance costs allocated by municipalities, operational expenses, salaries, and equipment expenses.

The Cabinet adopted the Environmental Monitoring Programme for Montenegro for 2024.

The Cabinet adopted approved a programme for the construction, maintenance, reconstruction, and modernization of the railway infrastructure in Montenegro for 2024, with a total budget of €18,788,552. This includes funding for both current and investment maintenance.

The Cabinet adopted a programme for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and protection of main and regional roads in Montenegro for 2024, with a budget of €71,295,381. This programme aims to continue or initiate the construction and reconstruction of approximately 230 km of roads across the country. Funding for these projects comes from various sources, including the national budget, capital budget revenues, credit funds, and donations. In 2023, significant progress was made in implementing road infrastructure projects, with substantial funds utilized from both capital and current budgets, as well as loans from international financial institutions.

The Cabinet adopted a decision to establish a Coordination Body for the inventory of confiscated goods in the Port of Bar Free Zone. This action, taken as a signatory to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, demonstrates Montenegro's commitment to effectively respond to any attempts of illegal trade within the Free Zone, thereby enhancing public trust in institutions. The Coordination Body will primarily oversee the coordination and organisation of inventorying confiscated cigarettes, drafting plans for inventorying confiscated goods in the Free Zone, and proposing measures for the lawful disposal of confiscated goods. International partners supporting Montenegro in combating illicit trade, particularly the European Commission and the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Montenegro, will be invited to participate in the Coordination Body. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić will lead the Coordination Body, with Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary, and Anti-Corruption Momo Koprivica serving as his deputy. The Coordination Body will consist of five additional members and a secretary.

The Cabinet adopted the proposal for the conclusion of the Bilateral Agreement between Montenegro and the Republic of Kosovo for the IPA III Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Montenegro - Kosovo 2021-2027, and the agreement text was accepted. The Agreement defines the legal framework for implementing the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Montenegro - Kosovo 2021-2027. The overall objective of the Programme is to promote good neighbourly relations, foster European integration, and contribute to the social, economic, and territorial development of the cross-border area by improving employment, labour mobility, social and cultural inclusion across borders, and sustainable tourism development, all aimed at a stable, socially and economically developed cross-border region. The Programme content for the period 2021-2027 is aligned with Montenegro's accession process to the European Union, as well as with all relevant Government strategies and programmes.

Additionally, the Cabinet supported draft laws amending the Expropriation Law and the Law on Restitution of Confiscated Property Rights and Compensation, proposed by several members of the Parliament of Montenegro.

For full press release in Montenegrin, please click here.