Press release from the 137th Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held 137th session, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Financial Conglomerates. The aim of the amendments is to align national legislation with Directive 2002/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the supplementary supervision of credit institutions, insurance undertakings and investment firms in a financial conglomerate, thereby improving the efficiency and proportionality of supervision of financial conglomerates. The adoption of these amendments will ensure full alignment with EU regulations and contribute to the closure of Negotiating Chapter 9.

The Cabinet adopted the Decree on Amendments to the Decree on Salaries of Persons Serving in the Armed Forces of Montenegro, with the aim of addressing significant disparities in the valuation of certain positions in the Army of Montenegro, primarily in the Air Force and in the areas of cyber operations and artificial intelligence, as well as ensuring more appropriate valuation of the most responsible positions within the military hierarchy and the operational engagement of Army personnel.

The Cabinet adopted the Decision on the Preparation of the Spatial and Urban Plan of the Municipality of Žabljak. Pursuant to Article 49 of the Spatial Planning Law, local planning documents are adopted by the assembly of the local self-government unit. However, Article 51 provides that, exceptionally, the Government of Montenegro may adopt a local planning document in three cases, one of which is when it reaches an agreement to that effect with the local self-government unit. In such cases, the local planning document is adopted in accordance with the manner and procedure prescribed by the Law for state planning documents. In accordance with this legal provision, the Municipality of Žabljak initiated the adoption of the Spatial and Urban Plan of the Municipality of Žabljak by the Government of Montenegro. Subsequently, the Government of Montenegro and the Municipality of Žabljak concluded an Agreement on the Adoption of the Spatial and Urban Plan of the Municipality of Žabljak. Accordingly, a draft Decision on the Preparation of the Spatial and Urban Plan of the Municipality of Žabljak was prepared. The funds required for the preparation of the Spatial and Urban Plan, amounting to €243,000, will be provided by the Municipality of Žabljak, in accordance with Article 56 of the Spatial Planning Law, which stipulates that funds for the preparation of planning documents are provided from the Budget of Montenegro, the budget of the local self-government unit, and other sources, in accordance with the law.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the Status of Implementation of the Employment Plan in the Area of EU Funds Management, with a Particular Focus on Two Pilot Sectors: Environmental Protection and Employment and Social Policy. Within the framework of the Public Administration Reform Strategy 2022-2026, key reform priorities are aimed at improving the efficiency and accountability of public administration bodies, strengthening systems for measuring the performance and results of employees, enhancing transparency in the work of public administration, and ensuring an inclusive and participatory process in the development and implementation of public policies. Support for the implementation of public administration reform and the improvement of the public financial management system has also been provided through Sector Budget Support under the IPA 2022 Annual Action Programme, in the total amount of €16.6 million. Of this amount, €13.1 million is allocated as direct budget support, while €3.5 million is earmarked for complementary activities aimed at implementing the Public Administration Reform Strategy and the Public Financial Management Reform Programme. In this context, at the initiative of the European Commission, the initially allocated amount of direct budget support was increased from €10.5 million to €13.1 million, representing an additional €2.6 million. The purpose of this increase was to further strengthen administrative capacities in two pilot sectors - environmental protection, on the one hand, and social policy and employment, on the other. In addition to the relevant ministries, other administrative bodies directly or indirectly contributing to the implementation of the defined programmes are also involved in these activities.

The Cabinet adopted the Second Contribution to the European Commission's 2026 Report on Montenegro, covering the period from 1 April to 31 August 2026. It was emphasised during the discussion that, in line with established practice, Montenegro formally informs the European Commission at least twice a year about the overall activities carried out in the area of European integration, as part of the monitoring and analysis of developments in the accession process. The contribution submitted by Montenegro provides an important basis for the European Commission in preparing its annual Report on Montenegro, which assesses the results achieved and provides recommendations for further work.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the Implementation of Decisions of the Commission for Assessing Damage Caused by Natural Disasters Adopted in the First Half of 2026. The Information states, among other things, that the Commission will make payments of approved compensation successively, according to the chronological order in which applications were received, i.e. the order in which they were registered by the Commission, given that the available funds are insufficient to implement all adopted decisions simultaneously. This approach will ensure uniform and transparent treatment of all applicants whose applications have been reviewed and on which decisions have been adopted. Compensation payments will be made up to the amount of the Commission's currently available funds, totalling €131,192.45. Once these funds have been exhausted, the Commission will continue implementing the remaining decisions concerning damage incurred in 2025, in accordance with the pace at which additional budget funds are secured.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on Priority Activities to Improve Airport Infrastructure for the Development and Expansion of the Capacities of Airports of Montenegro and adopted the Decision on Establishing an Interinstitutional Coordination Body for the Development and Improvement of the Airport Capacities of Airports of Montenegro. The Information highlights that, given the number, scope and diverse nature of the identified activities, as well as the fact that their implementation largely requires action by multiple state authorities and institutions, there is a clear need to establish an appropriate and effective mechanism for coordinating and monitoring their implementation. To this end, an Interinstitutional Coordination Body for the Development and Expansion of the Capacities of Airports of Montenegro will be established, whose primary task will be to coordinate and monitor the implementation of priority activities aimed at improving airport capacities. Given the strategic importance of air transport and airport infrastructure for Montenegro's economic development and tourism potential, it was decided that the Body would be chaired by the Prime Minister, thereby ensuring the highest level of operational efficiency and decision-making. The Body will be tasked with ensuring continuous exchange of information among the institutions involved, monitoring the implementation of priority activities, contributing to coordinated and timely action by the competent authorities, and identifying in a timely manner issues requiring additional interinstitutional coordination or urgent decision-making at the Government level.