Press release: The 44th Cabinet session – 28 October 2021

The Montenegrin Cabinet, at its 44th session held on 28 October 2021, chaired by Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, adopted the Key Findings - Annual Report of the European Commission for Montenegro 2021.  The working groups in charge of preparing and conducting negotiations on Montenegro's accession to the European Union were tasked to review all findings and recommendations from the European Commission Report on Montenegro 2021 and to submit the Roadmap for meeting the final benchmarks to the Government by 1 December 2021 for adoption.

The Information on activities undertaken in the field of public administration reform in accordance with the recommendations of the Progress Report of Montenegro for 2021 was adopted. The discussion emphasised that public administration reform together with the rule of law and economic governance is one of the preconditions for Montenegro's accession to the European Union. The ultimate goal of public administration reform, digitalization and optimization processes is optimal and efficient public administration, which will be a better service for citizens and the economy, with special emphasis on the responsibility of heads of institutions.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on the organization of the market in fisheries and aquaculture in order to align national legislation with the acquis communautaire. This law creates the basis for ensuring the efficient functioning of the market of fishery and aquaculture. It also provides the basis for establishing an organized market through market organization mechanisms and defining clear rules regarding consumer information. The competent authority, conditions and methods for exporting fishery products to EU countries are also defined.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft law on the ratification of amendments of the Multilateral Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Romania, Serbia and United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo on the Establishment of a Common European Aviation Area ( ECAA Agreement) .

In order to prepare Montenegrin agricultural producers and entrepreneurs living in rural areas to reach European standards by withdrawing funds from pre-accession funds, the Cabinet adopted a Decree amending the Decree on the implementation and use of funds from the EU pre-accession assistance instrument (IPARD II programme). Amendments to the provisions of the current Decree introduced the possibility of submitting a request for payment of support funds by phases of investment defined by the contract, provided that the part of the investment for which the request for payment of support by phases is submitted must be a functional unit. The possibility of disbursing funds once after the completion of the entire investment or in a maximum of three phases has also been introduced.

The Cabinet adopted a Decree on emission limit values from combustion plants and the method of calculating emission limit values for plants that use several types of fuel, which further harmonizes Montenegrin legislation with European legislation in this area, especially in the field of industrial pollution prevention. The Decree covers large combustion plants (thermal inputs above 50 MW), whose emissions have already been regulated through existing acts, but also medium combustion plants whose thermal inputs are between 1 and 50 MW. Also, the Decree stipulates the obligation of combustion plant operators who, through their responsible behavior towards human health and the environment, can contribute to the improvement of air quality by respecting the prescribed emission limit values by applying the best available pollution prevention techniques.

The Decision on the formation of the Working Group for the preparation and conduct of negotiations on the accession of Montenegro to the European Union in the field of the acquis communautaire, which refers to the Chapter 22 - Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments was adopted. By forming the Working Group, its composition is adapted to the new circumstances and personnel changes that occurred after the formation of the Government. Also, the adoption of this Decision stems from the need to adjust the negotiating structure of Montenegro to the current phase of the negotiation process, which is expected to meet the final benchmarks set out in this chapter, in order to meet conditions for closing this chapter.

The Report on the implementation of the Action Plan for meeting the final benchmarks in Chapter 27 - Environment and Climate Change, for the reporting period February - July 2021, was adopted. In the reporting period, the implementation of 112 measures is planned, of which 92 were implemented, which makes the implementation rate 82.1%. It is assessed that this result is at a satisfactory level, having in mind the aggravating circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of most of the remaining obligations is expected in the coming period.

The Cabinet adopted a Decision on the appointment of the Council for the Revision of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the construction of the Komarnica hydropower plant. The Ministry of Capital Investments was instructed to ask Montenegrin Electric Enterprise (EPCG) to submit an updated offer in order to continue the procedure of granting a concession for the construction and use of HPP Komarnica.

The Information on the need to approve the payment of funds to a limited liability company for the transport of passengers and goods in air transport "ToMontenegro" was adopted. In that context, the Cabinet adopted the Decision on approving the payment of funds to that company from the Current Budget Reserve in the amount of EUR 4,000,000.00, which increases the capital of the Company to EUR 30,000,000.00.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on activities on the implementation of the project of connecting the power systems of Montenegro and Italy by undersea cable.

The Information on the current situation, activities undertaken and implementation of further measures to combat erosion on Ada Bojana was adopted.

The Information on the Fund for Encouraging Media Pluralism and Diversity was adopted. The Fund would guarantee transparent financing of internet publications and print media, which would enable them to provide a wide range of pluralistic information and various contents without any influence and pressure. The law stipulates that the Fund is financed from the budget of Montenegro in a fixed amount of at least 0.09% of gross domestic product. On that occasion, the Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare was in charge of providing the amount of 344,037.58 euros for this purpose.

The Report on the work of the Commission for monitoring the actions of the competent authorities in investigating cases of threats and violence against journalists, murders of journalists and attacks on media property for the period from 4 June to 4 October 2021 was also adopted. In the reporting period, the Commission determined that the most severe and serious cases of attacks on journalists and their property are priorities, as well as cases that would become obsolete in the near future. Also, in addition to these cases, the Commission deals primarily with new cases of attacks on media representatives. In the reporting period from 4 June to 4 October 2021, the Commission processed nine cases of attacks on journalists. Of these, five attacks occurred in 2021, and four in the earlier period.