Press release from the 71st Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held its 71st session, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Concessions. The existing Law regulates the conditions, manner, and procedure for granting concessions, the subject of concessions, and other relevant issues. The proposed amendment stipulates that the area of games of chance is not subject to concession agreements. The aim is to align with the Draft Law on Games of Chance, which was adopted by the Montenegrin Cabinet at its session on 26 December 2024. This law defines that the right to organize games of chance will be granted by a decision of the Government of Montenegro or an approval from the Administration for Games of Chance to business entities that meet the conditions specified in the law. Accordingly, the Draft Law on Games of Chance ensures that such rights will not be transferred through a concession contract. Additionally, these amendments eliminate possible legal ambiguities and potential issues in the interpretation of regulations.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Property-Legal Relations. The main reason for adopting this law is to align it with the legal framework of the European Union, particularly with the Stabilization and Association Agreement signed by Montenegro in 2007, which came into force in 2010, a year after the adoption of the current Law on Property-Legal Relations. This Agreement is an international treaty that has supremacy over domestic legislation, thereby imposing the obligation to equalize the treatment of EU citizens with Montenegrin citizens. The goal is to fully harmonize this area and ensure equal treatment of EU citizens when the Stabilization and Association Agreement ceases to be in force (upon Montenegro’s accession to the EU). Article 1 of the Draft Law introduces a new Article 415a, ensuring national treatment for natural and legal persons from EU member states regarding property ownership rights, while Article 2 aligns with the amendment introduced in Article 1 of the Draft Law.

The Cabinet adopted amendments to the Draft Law on Games of Chance. Amendment 1 supplements Article 12 of the Draft Law to define advertising by gaming operators, their services, and associated benefits. This enables a clearer interpretation of Article 17 of the Draft Law, which outlines prohibitions and possibilities regarding advertising.

Amendment 2 modifies Article 17, Paragraph 1 of the Draft Law to explicitly define restrictions on advertising by gaming operators, their services, and benefits outlined in Amendment 1.

Amendment 3 supplements Article 19 of the Draft Law by adding a new paragraph after paragraph 4, which grants the Ministry the authority to regulate, through a bylaw, the detailed manner of advertising on the external parts of premises for games of chance as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, as well as the external appearance of premises for games of chance as referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article.

Amendment 4 modifies Article 22, paragraph 1 of the Draft Law by providing a more comprehensive definition of educational institutions where primary and secondary education is conducted, as well as stipulating that the distance between establishments organizing games of chance and educational institutions cannot be less than 150 meters.

The Cabinet adopted amendments to the Draft Law on Energy, consisting of 19 amendments, with Amendment 1 being particularly significant. This amendment introduces a new chapter on the Marking of petroleum-based liquid fuels and biofuels, establishing mandatory marking of fuels placed on the Montenegrin market, including those intended for supplying vessels in international transport. The procedure for registering or recording storage facilities for petroleum products and biofuels for personal use with a capacity of over two tons, as well as stations for supplying one's own transportation vehicles that do not require a license for performing energy activities, is regulated in the register maintained by the Ministry, with the aim of controlling and marking fuel for these entities as well. Additionally, it mandates that fuel retailers can only supply registered fuel storage facilities. The amendments also introduce an Inspector for Hydrocarbons, who will oversee fuel marking and enforce compliance.

The Cabinet adopted the Decree on Amendments to the Decree on Criteria and Methods for Granting the Status of Distinguished Cultural Creator. The reasons for these amendments stem from the fact that the existing regulation is outdated and does not fully recognize artistic and cultural professionals in different fields. The new regulation explicitly defines the areas of cultural work. Additionally, the role of professional associations has been strengthened, allowing them to independently submit proposals to the Ministry for granting the status of distinguished cultural creator. The amendments also clarify the selection process for members of the expert commission, aligning it with best practices from the region.

The Cabinet approved the purchase of the “Children’s Ward” building of the Institute Igalo in response to the Public call for sale of real estate through bid collection issued on 27 February 2025. The Director of the Administration for State Property was tasked with submitting an offer to purchase the building for €4,870,000 and signing the purchase agreement. The building, with a gross footprint of 1,897 m² and a total available gross area of 4,685 m², will be repurposed for the construction of a public-interest facility—a school—according to the Restructuring Plan of the Institute Igalo. The need for a new school in Igalo has long been recognized as a priority in Montenegro’s educational infrastructure. Over 120 students from Igalo are currently enrolled in the “Ilija Kisić” school, with transportation expenses of €39,875 per year for students traveling to Sutorina due to the closure of a local school branch at the Institute Igalo. Addressing this issue will provide better educational conditions for students in Igalo and alleviate the burden on existing schools in Herceg Novi, ultimately ensuring safer and more suitable learning environments for students.