The 62nd Cabinet session – 10 March 2022

The Montenegrin Cabinet, at its 62nd session held on 10 March 2022, chaired by Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, adopted the Information regarding the status of persons from Ukraine in Montenegro and passed a Decision granting temporary protection to persons from Ukraine who cannot return to their country of origin, and who were forced to leave due to armed conflict, for a period of up to one year. In order to supervise the implementation of the Decision, a Coordination Body is formed, consisting of representatives of state administration bodies responsible for internal affairs, foreign affairs, finance, labour, social welfare and health. The Ministry of the Interior and the Police Directorate are in charge of allowing Ukrainian citizens who do not have a valid travel document to enter Montenegro for humanitarian reasons while providing: a travel document that has expired or copies thereof, valid internal passport in the form of a booklet or valid or expired ID cards or copies thereof, birth certificates for children under 18 or copies thereof. The Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare is in charge, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Red Cross and the UNHCR, of providing accommodation facilities for adequate accommodation of foreigners under temporary protection, necessary assistance and basic subsistence.

The Programme for the use of funds for water management activities for 2022 was adopted. The programme covers basic activities in the field of water management, water protection and more efficient water use. Funds in the amount of EUR 331,800 are planned for the implementation of projects envisaged by the Programme, of which EUR 190,000 has been allocated for the provision of data required for water management activities, and EUR 110,000 for protection against the harmful effects of water. The remaining amount of EUR 31,800 is necessary for the implementation of the Programme.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the change of members of the Unit for Implementation of Projects for Monitoring Credit Arrangements with the European Investment Bank (Main Roads Rehabilitation Programme) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Main Roads Reconstruction). In order to monitor the implementation of these projects, in accordance with the signed financing agreements with the EIB and the EBRD, the Project Implementation Unit was formed in 2020, which, among other things, should monitor and implement all elements of the project. Due to organisational changes in the competent institutions, project implementation units have been formed noting the changes in the composition, which have the task of conducting a complete tender procedure - from preparing a tender, announcing it and implementing a complete procedure to selecting contractors, all according to bank rules. Members of units for the implementation of projects for monitoring credit arrangements are entitled to a monthly fee in the amount determined by the Decision on Criteria for Determining the Amount of Remuneration for Work of a Working Body or Other Work, in the total amount of EUR 315,000 planned by the Capital Budget.

The Information on the implementation of the project for the construction of HPP Komarnica was adopted, as well as the Decision on granting a concession for the use of natural resources for the construction, maintenance and use of the energy facility of the Komarnica hydropower plant for the production of electricity. Also, the Cabinet accepted the Draft Concession Agreement, and the Ministry of Capital Investments is in charge of conducting the negotiation procedure with Montenegrin Electric Enterprise (EPCG), in order to harmonise the final text of the agreement and submit it to the Cabinet for consideration and adoption within 60 days.

The Report on the work of the Commission for Monitoring the Work of Competent Authorities in Investigations of Cases of Threats and Violence against Journalists, Murders of Journalists and Attacks on Media Property for the period from 4 October 2021 to 10 February 2022 was adopted. The Report states that the Commission adopted a 2022 work plan, where the priorities remained unchanged - the most serious cases of attacks on journalists and their property that will become obsolete in the near future, as well as newly formed cases related to attacks on media representatives. In the reporting period, the Commission reviewed 12 cases of attacks or threats against journalists and two attacks on property. In two cases, according to the available documentation, the competent authorities fully implemented all necessary measures and actions to shed light on the attacks on journalists. In several cases, the Commission considers that the attacks have not been fully clarified, i.e. all measures and actions have not been taken. On that occasion, the Secretariat General of the Government is in charge of submitting the Report on the work of the Commission to the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office.

The Cabinet adopted a Decision amending the Decision on taking temporary measures due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The Decision on dissolving the Municipal Assembly of Tivat was adopted. Bearing in mind that, even after the warning from the Government, the Municipal Assembly of Tivat did not hold a session, i.e. did not ensure its functioning or execute its legal duties, which jeopardized the exercise of citizens' rights, the Cabinet assessed that the conditions for dissolving the Municipal Assembly have been met. The Board of Creditors appointed by the Government shall be in charge of the functioning of the Assembly, until the newly elected Assembly is constituted.

The Cabinet adopted the Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for Addressing Key Recommendations from the European Commission's Report on Montenegro 2021 for the Period 10 December 2021 - 10 March 2022.