Press release from the 16th Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet, at today's 16th session chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Internal Policy, European, and Foreign Affairs Aleksa Bečić adopted the Draft Medium-Term Government Work Programme 2024 – 2027. In line with established practice and with the intention of strengthening result-oriented policymaking based on measurable data, the Government has defined in the Draft a set of key priorities and goals to focus on. Alongside it, a work programme for 2024 has been prepared, outlining specific activities whose implementation will contribute to achieving the set goals. The key priorities identified for the upcoming period are: 1. Montenegro as a state of rule of law and a credible member of the EU and NATO, 2. Stable financial and economic system for a prosperous state, citizens, 3. Healthy and educated individuals as the foundation of a prosperous and cohesive society. The drafting of the document was conceived as an inclusive process involving all interested parties. It was emphasised in the discussion that, following good practice, this Government is fully committed to increasing transparency and has a clear intention to prioritize the ultimate beneficiaries of public policies, the citizens. To this end, the Secretariat General of the Government is tasked with organising a public debate on the Draft from 19 February to 9 March 2024, and subsequently preparing and submitting to the Government the Proposal of the Medium-Term Government Work Programme 2024 – 2027, along with a Report on the conducted public debate.

The Proposal for the Law on Protection against Ionizing Radiation, Radiation, and Nuclear Safety and Security, along with the Report on the conducted public debate, has been adopted. The draft law regulates the protection of human life and health and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation, the import, export, and transit of sources of ionizing radiation and nuclear materials, the transport of radioactive sources and nuclear materials, the management of radioactive waste, and other issues of importance for radiation and nuclear safety and security. Since the legal framework of the European Union in this area has significantly changed since 2009 when the existing Law was adopted, and international legal instruments have been confirmed, it was necessary to draft this Law to improve the protection of human health and the environment in this area. The Proposal for the Law transposes 11 Directives of the EU Council, one Decision, and one Regulation of the EU Council, as well as certain provisions of 26 international legal instruments to which Montenegro is a contracting party, thereby fulfilling obligations from several negotiation chapters in the EU accession process.

The Cabinet adopted a Decree on delegating part of the tasks of the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property to local self-government units. According to the Decree, tasks related to issuing urban-technical conditions, except for complex engineering structures, buildings with a gross construction area of 3000 m² and above, hotels, tourist settlements with at least four or five stars, and tourist resorts, as well as objects for which a competition for the development of conceptual architectural solutions is mandatory, squares, shipyards, promenades, and city parks, are delegated to local self-government units. It was assessed in the discussion that this solution will contribute to more efficient performance of tasks related to issuing urban-technical conditions, a stable and sustainable system of plan implementation and technical documentation preparation, construction of facilities, and construction control.

Decisions have been made on the formation of negotiating working groups for the preparation and conduct of negotiations on Montenegro's accession to the European Union for the areas of EU acquis related to negotiation chapters: 1 – Free movement of goods, 2 – Freedom of movement for workers, 10 – Information society and media, 12 – Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary control, 19 – Social policy and employment, 27 – Environment, 30 – External relations, and 31 – Foreign, security and defence policy.

The Cabinet adopted a Decision on the establishment of the Operational Body for the Implementation of the Public Information Strategy on Montenegro's Accession to the European Union 2023 – 2026. Considering that EU accession is Montenegro's strategic foreign policy goal and that, in addition to effectively implementing reforms, it is necessary to ensure stable public support for EU accession, it is essential to establish a body responsible for the efficient and quality implementation of that document, through coordination of all government bodies (all ministries), with the Parliament of Montenegro, local self-governments, the business, academic, and civil sectors. The basis for adopting this Decision is a new strategic document whose implementation will contribute to better informing and understanding the process of European integration among citizens and ensure continued support for Montenegro's EU accession process. Also, a new Decision was necessary due to personnel changes in several government ministries regarding the implementation of communication activities related to the European integration process.

A Decision on amending the Decision on the establishment of part of the Joint Commission for the Implementation of the Basic Agreement between Montenegro and the Holy See has been adopted. Through dialogue with religious communities, Montenegro demonstrates its commitment to preserving its multiethnic, multiconfessional, and multicultural harmony as the cornerstone of its statehood and identity. Therefore, due to new personnel solutions after the formation of the 44th Government, there was a need to appoint members of the Joint Commission composed on a parity basis (five representatives from Montenegro and the Holy See), with Filip Ivanović, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as co-chair from the Montenegrin side.

The Cabinet adopted a Decision on determining the public interest for expropriation of real estate in the municipalities of Kolašin and Andrijevica for the construction of the Bar – Boljare highway, Mateševo – Andrijevica section.

The Cabinet adopted an Information on the intention to merge the company AD "Održavanje željezničkih voznih sredstava" Podgorica (Maintenance of Railway Vehicles) with the company             "Željeznički prevoz Crne Gore" AD Podgorica (Montenego Railways). In this context, the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs has been tasked with carrying out necessary activities to facilitate the merger of these two companies. Additionally, the Cabinet has provided consent to utilize the Current Budget Reserve, up to the amount of 1.7 million euros, for the purpose of increasing the state's capital in companies, along with associated costs, including potential expenses related to engaging financial consultants and other costs associated with implementing the aforementioned transaction.