The 23rd Cabinet session – 13 October 2022

The Montenegrin Cabinet, at today's 23rd session, chaired by Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Technical Requirements for Products and Conformity Assessment. The changes were made in order to align with European regulations that establish a common framework for trade in products, which fulfills one of the three interim benchmarks in Chapter 1 - Free movement of goods. The adoption of this Law increases the possibilities of placing products of Montenegrin producers on the common market, thereby creating favourable conditions for direct foreign investments and the development of existing industrial production.

The Draft Law on ratification of the agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the Republic of Korea on economic cooperation has been adopted. The signing of the Agreement enables the intensification of cooperation in specific economic areas, thereby establishing an adequate legal framework for its strengthening. One of the key reasons for concluding the Agreement is the creation of conditions for further development of cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, forestry and fishing, energy, research and development, construction industry, transport, shipbuilding and logistics, environmental protection, tourism, investment promotion, cooperation of small and medium-sized enterprises, information technology, training in areas of common interest, as well as other areas. The Agreement is based both on strengthening existing bilateral economic cooperation and on identifying a new business and institutional environment.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on ratification of amendments to 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, North Macedonia, the Republic of Iceland, Montenegro, the Kingdom of Norway, Romania, the Republic of Serbia, and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo on the establishment of the European common aviation area (ECAA Agreement). It aims to deliver economic benefits for air travelers and the aviation industry, ensuring that ECAA airlines have open access to the enlarged European single market in aviation, guaranteeing the same high level of safety and security throughout Europe. By adopting the proposed Law, Montenegro will harmonise the national regulations with the regulations in Annex I of the ECAA Agreement.

The Cabinet adopted the Report of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) on the 5^th evaluation round for Montenegro. The report examined the following themes: Preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. The report aims to identify weaknesses that need to be resolved, good standards that exist or are being developed, as well as to help the authorities in Montenegro to strengthen their efforts to prevent corruption, in accordance with GRECO standards. Bearing in mind the findings of the Report, GRECO sent concrete recommendations to Montenegro, calling on the authorities to submit a report on the measures taken to implement the recommendations by 31 December 2023.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the process of Montenegro's accession to the Digital Europe Programme. This EU funding programme is focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations. With a planned overall budget of 7.5 billion euros, it aims to accelerate the economic recovery and shape the digital transformation of Europe's society and economy, bringing benefits to everyone, but in particular to small and medium-sized enterprises. The Digital Europe Programme will provide strategic funding to answer these challenges, supporting projects in five key capacity areas: in supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and ensuring a wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society, including through Digital Innovation Hubs. In order to intensify the activities of Montenegro's accession to this Programme, the Ministry of Public Administration is tasked with forming a Negotiating Team consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Economic Development and Tourism, European Affairs, Science and Technological Development, and Foreign Affairs.

Full press release in Montenegrin is available here.