Press release from the 25th Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held its 25^th session, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law of the Law on Psychological Activities and the public consultation report. This law aims to regulate the practice of psychology, ensuring quality control, defining the responsibilities of the Chamber of Psychologists of Montenegro, and addressing various issues concerning the profession.

The Cabinet approved the signing of Annex 1 to the Priority Concession Agreement for the commercial use of the port of Kotor with the concessionaire "Luka Kotor" AD Kotor. This annex includes provisions for harbor pilotage services in the port of Kotor and the Bay of Kotor, with an annual fixed concession fee of €650,000 and variable concession fees. It also addresses the regulation of anchorage to ensure safe passage for vessels entering or leaving the port, along with a 13-month contract extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the concessionaire's operations. Additionally, the fixed concession fee will increase to €900,000, alongside variable concession fees, ensuring lawful harbor pilotage operations.

The Cabinet adopted the Action Plan for 2024 to implement the Strategy for Enhancing Public Procurement and Public-Private Partnerships in Montenegro for the period 2021-2025. This plan outlines 22 activities across six operational objectives, including professionalization and capacity enhancement of procurement entities, establishing effective coordination mechanisms within the Ministry of Finance and other relevant institutions, improving the Montenegrin Electronic Public Procurement Platform (CEJN), promoting the use of framework agreements, centralized procurement, green and sustainable procurement, and enhancing legal protection before the Commission for the Protection of Rights in Public Procurement Procedures. Additionally, it aims to strengthen institutional and operational capacities of key stakeholders to support the effective implementation of the legal framework for public-private partnerships.

The report on the implementation of the 2023 Action Plan indicates that out of 17 planned activities, 10 were fully implemented (58.82%), four were not implemented (23.52%), and three were partially implemented or ongoing (17.64%). The partially implemented or ongoing measures are incorporated into the 2024 Action Plan based on their current status and relevance.

The Report on the Implementation of Montenegro's Capital Budget for the first quarter of 2024 has been adopted. According to the Budget Law for 2024, the capital budget allocated a total of €240,012,958 for the implementation of 332 projects, with an estimated total value of €2.8 billion. In the first quarter of 2024, €25 million was spent on the capital budget, representing 10% of the total planned amount. Out of this, €4.2 million came from credit funds, and €2 million from EU donations (IPA projects). Compared to the previous year, the execution rate has almost doubled, with total spending increasing two and a half times.

Within the capital budget, the Capital Projects Administration has been allocated €85 million for the implementation of 254 projects, representing 35% of the total capital budget for 2024. In the first quarter of 2024, €14.7 million was spent on projects managed by the Capital Projects Administration, accounting for 16% of the total planned amount. This is four times higher than the expenditure in the same period last year when €3.5 million was spent (3% of the total planned for 2023).

For the Transport Administration's capital budget, funds totaling €155 million were allocated, with €65 million earmarked for the implementation of 77 projects, representing 27%. Specifically, for the Bar-Boljare highway, Mateševo-Andrijevica section, €90 million was allocated, accounting for 38% of the total capital budget. In the first quarter of 2024, €10.3 million was spent on projects managed by the Transport Administration, representing 7% of the total planned amount. This is three million more than the expenditure in the same period last year when €7.1 million was spent.

Considering that project documentation is underway for the Mateševo-Andrijevica highway section, the execution of the Transport Administration's capital budget stands at 11% of the planned amount for projects other than the highway, which indicates a consumption dynamic similar to that of the previous year.

The Cabinet adopted the Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for Meeting the Closing Benchmarks in Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change, for the reporting period of September 2023 to February 2024. The report states that during this period, the implementation of 206 measures was planned, with 124 measures having deadlines for completion and 82 measures being continuously ongoing. Out of the 124 measures with deadlines, 11 measures were completed (8.87%), and 49 measures were partially completed (39.51%). Regarding the 82 continuously ongoing measures, 41 were completed (50%), and 31 measures were partially completed (37.8%).

Additionally, the Cabinet adopted the Report on the Implementation of the Programme for the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage for the year 2023. The programme aimed to implement 45 programmes and projects significant for the public interest in the field of cultural heritage, with a total budget of €704,400. The report indicates that 69% of the projects were completed, three projects (7%) were not completed, and 24% were partially completed and will be finished in 2024. Out of the allocated €704,400, €382,086 was spent.

Furthermore, the Cabinet adopted the Report on the Work of the Protector of Property and Legal Interests of Montenegro for the year 2023.

The Cabinet adopted the Medium-Term Work Programme for the Government for 2024-2027 and the Work Programme for the Government for 2024. In the discussion, it was emphasised that this Government is fully committed to increasing transparency and has a clear intention to prioritize end users of public policies, the citizens. The key priorities of the Government for the upcoming period are:

• Montenegro as a state of rule of law and a credible member of the EU and NATO,
• Stable financial and economic system for a prosperous state and its citizens,
• Healthy and educated individuals as the foundation of a prosperous and solidarity-driven society.

The Work Programme of the Government for 2024 includes a total of 396 activities, comprising 222 in the thematic part and 174 in the normative part.

The Cabinet adopted the Report on the Implementation of the Medium-Term Work Programme of the Government of Montenegro for 2022-2024 in 2023.

The Cabinet adopted the Montenegro's Programme of Accession to the European Union for 2024-2027. Aligned with the Medium-Term Work Programme of the Government, this programme aims to outline the country's path towards alignment with relevant EU legislation in all negotiation areas. Across all 33 negotiation chapters, the programme encompasses 718 plans, noting that certain acts are repeated across multiple chapters. Of these plans, 165 are strategic and 553 are legislative, with 221 of the legislative plans being laws and 332 being sub-legal acts. The highest number of obligations is planned for 2024, totaling 326, followed by 231 plans for 2025, 105 for 2026, and 56 for 2027.

For full press release in Montenegrin, please click here.