The 33rd Cabinet session – 16 December 2022

The Montenegrin Cabinet, at today's 33rd session chaired by Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, adopted the Draft Law on additions and amendments to the Law on confiscation of material benefit derived from criminal activities. The law is fully aligned with the EU acquis.

The Cabinet also adopted the Draft Law on amendments to the Law on Courts in order to more effectively implement the provisions of the Law on confiscation of material benefit derived from criminal activities.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on amendments to the Law on Value Added Tax in order to additionally harmonize the national VAT legislation with the EU Council Directive 2006/112 on the common VAT system.

The Draft Law on amendments to the Law on Hydrocarbon Tax with the Report on the Public Debate was adopted.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Ratification of the Sectoral Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the European Commission, which establishes the rules for the management and implementation of the Union's financial support to Montenegro within the framework of the Pre-accession Instrument support for the policy area "Agriculture and Rural Development" (IPARD III).

The Decree on the Customs Tariff for 2023 was adopted, harmonizing the national with the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union.

The Cabinet adopted changes to decrees that ensure the implementation of the Law on Food Safety and harmonization with the EU acquis in the following areas: flavouring; microbiological criteria for food safety; food hygiene; maximum allowed amounts of contaminants in food and types of vitamins and minerals that can be used in the production of supplements.

The 2022-2026 Public Finance Management Reform Programme with Action Plan was adopted. The Programme is needed to ensure fiscal sustainability and good management of public finances in accordance with the EU acquis.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the Financial Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the European Commission on the IPA Annual Action Programme for Montenegro for 2021 and accepted the Agreement. The Information states that the Annual Action Programme for Montenegro for 2021 has allocated a total of 33,517,352 euros, of which 32,410,000 euros are grants from the European Union, while the amount of national co-financing is 1,107,352 euros. The signing of this Agreement is a prerequisite for the use of allocated EU funds and the start of the implementation of the activities planned by the programme.

The Annual Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Judiciary ICT Development Programme 2021-2023 for 2021 was adopted.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the intention of the Government of Montenegro to purchase part of the remaining offered shares of the Port of Bar owned by the minority shareholders.

Full press release in Montenegrin is available here.