Press release from the 68th Cabinet session

At today's 68th Cabinet session, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić, the Government Work Programme for 2025 was adopted, along with the Report on the Implementation of the Medium-Term Government Work Programme 2024–2027 for 2024. The Government Work Programme serves as an instrument for implementing the objectives set out in the Medium-Term Government Work Programme 2024–2027. It is based on medium-term strategic priorities, annual economic policy measures, and obligations arising from national legislation, strategic documents, and Montenegro’s EU accession process. All priorities and objectives outlined in the medium-term programme are further elaborated in annual work programmes, defining specific activities within strategic and legislative frameworks. The successful implementation of these obligations is measured both individually and through their contribution to achieving set performance indicators. The Government Work Programme for 2025 includes a total of 414 planned activities, of which 238 relate to thematic priorities and 176 to legislative measures. 

The Cabinet adopted the Report on the Implementation of the Accession Programme of Montenegro to the European Union 2024–2027 for 2024, as well as the Accession Programme for 2025–2026. Key plans for 2025 and 2026: 409 acts planned for 2025, including 78 strategic documents, 152 laws, and 179 bylaws, 230 acts planned for 2026, with 35 strategic documents, 29 laws, and 166 bylaws. The most obligations in 2025 fall under food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policy (103), transport policy (78), free movement of goods (42), judiciary and fundamental rights (38), and environment and climate change (37). The draft 2025–2026 Programme underwent public consultation from 3 to 23 January 2025, ensuring transparency and alignment with the Government’s 2025 Work Plan. 2024 implementation highlights: 160 out of 282 planned obligations were fulfilled (57%), a major improvement from 33% in 2023, 112 of 220 planned legislative measures (51%) were completed, including 58 laws (53%) and 54 bylaws (49%), 48 of 62 strategic documents (77%) were adopted. Quarterly performance: Q1 (100%), Q2 (84%), Q3 (57%), Q4 (34%), with delays in Q4 due to parliamentary inactivity. The Government’s ambitious EU accession agenda aims to close all negotiation chapters by the end of 2026, requiring enhanced parliamentary engagement in 2025 to ensure full implementation of planned reforms.

The Action Plan for the Implementation of Recommendations from the European Commission’s 2024 Report on Montenegro was adopted. The European Commission (EC) Report on Montenegro, published in October 2024, serves as a key monitoring mechanism for assessing the country’s progress towards EU accession. It outlines clear guidelines and recommendations for accelerating the integration process, particularly in light of the Government’s commitment to concluding all EU accession-related obligations by the end of 2026, including the Barometer 26, a platform outlining joint commitments for the finalization of negotiations with the European Union. The Ministry of European Affairs thoroughly analyzed the EC Report and structured its recommendations into a comprehensive strategic document, covering reforms in public administration and 31 chapters of the EU acquis, excluding Chapters 23 (Judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (Justice, freedom and security), which will have dedicated action plans. The Report highlighted significant progress in Montenegro’s rule of law reforms, evidenced by receiving the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR), the successful adoption of the Reform Agenda and notable advancements in Chapter 7 (Intellectual property law), Chapter 10 (Information society and media) and Chapter 20 (Enterprise and industrial policy). These chapters were provisionally closed during the Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels on 16 December 2024. The Action Plan will serve as a roadmap for meeting outstanding obligations, reinforcing EU accession efforts, and tracking progress across six negotiation clusters. It will be publicly available to ensure transparency, allowing citizens, civil society, and stakeholders to monitor developments. 

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on the Ratification of the Agreement on the Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies (CEEPUS IV). This agreement aims to promote regional academic mobility and long-term collaboration by facilitating student exchanges and mutual recognition of study periods and higher education qualifications among participating universities. The CEEPUS IV Agreement, comprising 13 articles, defines the framework for academic cooperation, including student and faculty exchanges, scholarships and joint research initiatives. The Central CEEPUS Office in Vienna will oversee implementation and compliance, ensuring an efficient coordination process. Montenegro is participating in 165 months of academic exchanges, offering students scholarships covering living expenses, laboratory research, accommodation, and basic health insurance. The agreement will enter into force on 1 May 2025, after ratification by signatory states. 

The Cabinet adopted an Information on the Participation in Accommodation and Meal Costs for Medical Faculty Students – Applied Physiotherapy Programme in Igalo. Recognizing the financial burden on students, the Government, in cooperation with the University of Montenegro, has approved a monthly subsidy of €100 per student for accommodation and meals, from 1 March to 1 July 2025. The total allocated funding amounts to €47,000, with an equal contribution from the University of Montenegro. This measure aims to improve accessibility to education and support students pursuing medical studies outside their place of residence. 

The Cabinet approved the launch of a public recruitment process for 96 Police Academy graduates from the Higher Vocational School "Police Academy" in Danilovgrad. Given the strategic importance of maintaining an adequately staffed police force, the Government emphasized the necessity of immediate employment for graduates, ensuring continuity in law enforcement and national security operations. The recruitment drive includes 91 graduates from the 16th generation and 5 from the 15th generation. 

The Cabinet adopted the Action Plan for Meeting the Closing Benchmarks in Chapter 8 – Competition policy. This Action Plan outlines 36 specific activities aimed at aligning Montenegro’s competition policy with EU standards, focusing on competition protection, merger control, and state aid regulations. Implementation of this Action Plan will enhance Montenegro’s legal and institutional framework, strengthen market competition, improve the business environment and ensure equal opportunities for all economic operators. By fully meeting these commitments, Montenegro will make a key step towards closing negotiations in this chapter, thereby advancing its integration into the European Single Market.