The 49th Cabinet session – 1 December 2021

The Montenegrin Cabinet, at its 49th session held on 1 December 2021, chaired by Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, adopted the Draft Law on providing financial support to persons employed in companies in the mining and metal industry sector with the Report from the public debate.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on amendments to the Law on the efficient use of energy. Amendments have been made to improve the existing legal solution in terms of harmonisation with the EU legal framework with the aim of introducing the National Energy and Climate Plan as a key planning document in the field of energy efficiency, as well as improving the legal basis for better implementation of existing and future bylaws, especially when it comes to regulating the issue of energy efficiency in buildings.

The Decree on the criteria for setting the maximum prices of medicines was adopted. The aim of this regulation is to ensure the availability of quality, safe and efficient medicines at the best price. The Decree stipulates that the methodology of international price comparison, which is the most commonly used method in most European Union countries, should be used to limit the price of medicines. The reference countries were identified: the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Croatia and Romania, as comparable countries in terms of gross national income per capita, drug price levels, general economic situation, health system, drug refund system and drug range.

The Cabinet adopted the Decree on the termination of the Decree on the size, composition and manner of engaging the active reserve of the Armed Forces of Montenegro and the Decision on the size of the contractual reserve of the Armed Forces of Montenegro in order to harmonise them with the Law on the Armed Forces. The law established a new concept of the reserve composition of the Armed Forces, which consists of contractual and strategic reserves, and not active and inactive reserves as previously prescribed. The new Decision stipulates that the contractual reserve consists of 30 reserve officers, 30 reserve non-commissioned officers and 40 reserve soldiers.

The Cabinet adopted the Decision on the Energy Balance of Montenegro for 2022 which includes: Balance of electricity, Balance of coal, Balance of oil, petroleum products and biofuels, Balance of natural gas and balance of thermal energy for district heating and/or cooling and industrial use. The document was prepared on the basis of data on the balance of electricity obtained by the Electric Power Industry of Montenegro, CEDIS, CGES, electricity producers in Montenegro, the balance of coal by the Coal Mine, as well as the estimated turnover of petroleum products by oil companies. Also, the needs of certain economic entities (Uniprom KAP, Tosçelik Nikšić, several construction companies, etc.) that procure certain energy sources on their own were taken into account. In 2022, gross electricity consumption is planned at 3,571.93 GWh, and is covered by: production from own sources 3,519.15 GWh. The share of electricity from hydropower plants in the total planned production of electricity in 2022 is 53.33%, thermal power plants 37.42%, wind power plants 9.15% and solar power plants 0.10%. Of the total energy needs, Montenegro lacks a significant part, which in 2020 amounted to 43.60%, in 2021 a deficit of 43.30% is estimated, and in 2022 it is estimated at 47.09%. The biggest impact on the total energy deficit have oil derivatives and natural gas, which according to the plan for 2022 make up 46.57% of total energy consumption and are fully imported.

The Decision on determining the annual number of permits for temporary residence and work of foreigners for 2022 was adopted. The annual quota of permits is determined in the total number of 20,454. The decision should enable a balance between the needs of employment of domestic labour force, especially in seasonal jobs and the emphasised needs of employers in certain industries, when these needs cannot be fully met by the offer on the domestic labour market.

In accordance with the Law on Maritime Navigation Safety, the Cabinet adopted the Decision on the Establishment of the National Committee for Facilitation of Maritime Traffic. The National Committee is established to implement and make recommendations for the improvement of measures, activities and technological procedures that facilitate international maritime traffic and the flow of passengers, luggage, cargo and/or mail and the implementation of a Maritime Single Window".

The Cabinet adopted the Report on the application of the Decree on the election of representatives of non-governmental organizations to the working bodies of the state administration and conducting a public debate in the preparation of laws and strategies for 2020.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the launch of the Code for Montenegro - a platform for involving many relevant actors in solving digital problems and challenges of the citizens of Montenegro. In order to position Montenegro as a society of developed organisational, human, professional capacities that ensure the trust of citizens, the Ministry of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media will establish a Code for Montenegroa platform for involving a number of relevant actors in solving digital problems and challenges of the citizens of Montenegro, in the form of numerous types of cooperation programmes. The platform arose from the need to transfer good practices in the field of digital transformation and public administration, from private industry, civil and academic sectors to public administration, and it will function on a voluntary basis. Bearing in mind that technology and people are most important for digital transformation, the platform will enable the pooling of knowledge and experience of public servants and cooperation with partners from the private, ICT, civil sector from the country and abroad.

The Information on the establishment of the Consultative body of global leaders in the field of digital transformation was adopted, coordinated by the Ministry of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media. The Information states that digital transformation is one of the six strategic priorities of the Government and one of the main pillars of public administration reform, further digital development of Montenegro, modernisation and transparency of its work, as well as increasing efficiency and quality of services provided by public administration. Montenegro's role models, in terms of digital transformation, are countries that have already achieved an enviable level of digital development, such as the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and European Union countries, whose experts are members of this body. They will share their expertise and advice in the field of digital transformation, digitalisation of public administration and media to strengthen our teams in the further development processes of Montenegro. The tasks of this body are cooperation, consulting, exchange of expertise, experiences and good practices in the areas of dynamic digitalisation of public administration, capacity building for digital government, education of public officials and government teams in innovation and digitalisation, adoption of new technologies and cyber security.