The Montenegrin Cabinet convened for its 73rd session under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. During this meeting, the Cabinet approved the Draft Law for ratifying the Agreement on access to higher education and enrollment in the Western Balkans. This Agreement guarantees equal enrollment conditions for students from all participating states at higher education institutions. Consequently, students from one state can apply for admission to public universities and higher education institutions in other signatory states on the same terms as local students. This initiative is designed to lessen administrative barriers and improve access to higher education within the region. Moreover, the Agreement stipulates the acknowledgment of secondary school qualifications for further education, assuring that each signatory country recognizes diplomas and credentials issued in other member countries, barring cases of significant educational standard discrepancies. This measure promotes student mobility between institutions, simplifying administrative procedures and expediting diploma acknowledgment processes. A key feature of this international agreement is the formation of the Joint Commission responsible for overseeing the execution of the Agreement, standardizing lists of recognized educational institutions, and addressing potential disputes. The Commission will consist of representatives from each signatory nation and will convene regularly to assess the progress of the Agreement’s implementation and recommend necessary adjustments. Additionally, the Agreement emphasizes the need for transparency in admission processes, mandates states to provide information on available study programs, and encourages the development of joint study programs between higher education institutions of the signatory countries.

Furthermore, the Cabinet ratified the Draft Law on the Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Federal Republic of Germany regarding cooperation in culture, education, science, youth, and sports. This Agreement aims to enhance extensive cooperation in these sectors, promoting significant cultural exchange to enrich knowledge in art, literature, history, and related fields. It also fosters collaboration across all educational levels, encompassing both primary and higher education institutions, to improve language acquisition. The Agreement further supports scientific research entities, facilitating the exchange of academics, the execution of research initiatives, and the mobility of students and doctoral candidates through research opportunities, participation in scientific conferences, and related events. It also encourages youth exchanges and meetings between athletes, thereby advancing sports cooperation within educational frameworks. Signing this Agreement will lay the foundation for future cooperation programs in these fields, deepening bilateral ties.

The Cabinet adopted a Decision to establish financial compensation for Montenegro’s Armed Forces members participating in international missions, operations, and activities associated with NATO, the European Union, and the United Nations. Presently, financial compensation for members of the Montenegrin Armed Forces engaged in international operations is determined by individual decisions for each mission. This disjointed approach has resulted in an overwhelming number of regulations governing the same issue. Moreover, standardizing the financial compensation is essential due to the similarity of duties and the conditions under which they are performed. Considering the rising cost of living in host countries where Montenegrin troops serve, along with the security and geographic contexts of these missions, it has been proposed that the financial compensation for participating in NATO and EU missions will be set at a net rate of 115 euros daily, while for UN missions, the compensation will be 70 euros per day for military observers and 115 euros per day for staff officers/non-commissioned officers. The funds to implement this decision are included in the Draft Budget Law of Montenegro for 2025.

The Cabinet also adopted amendments to the Draft Law concerning the financing of local self-government. Four amendments have been introduced, three of which (1, 3, and 4) involve legal-technical adjustments, corrections, and renumbering. Amendment No. 2 revises the legal provision regarding the percentage of revenue allocation from concession fees for the utilization of airports, ports, and roads to ensure equitable revenue distribution. The Draft Law on amending the Law on financing local self-government includes a revised Article 1, which states: “In the Law on financing of local self-government (‘Official Gazette of Montenegro’, No. 3/19, 86/22, and 5/24), Article 13, paragraph 1, is amended to read: ‘The municipality is entitled to 70% of the revenue from concession and other fees (hereinafter: fees) for the use of assets of general interest located within its territory, except for revenue from concession fees for the use of ports, roads, and airports, of which 20% is allocated to the municipality where the port, road, or airport subject to the concession is situated.’

The Cabinet has also moved to form a new Operational Team for the Open Government Partnership. A Decision was adopted to amend the existing Decision on the establishment of this Operational Team, with its primary responsibility being to guide the process of developing the National Action Plan through inclusive consultations with all stakeholders. The Operational Team will be composed of representatives from non-governmental organizations and official delegations from relevant institutions, nominated through a public call. The Minister of Public Administration will coordinate the team, which will also include members from key ministries, relevant agencies, and NGOs specializing in anti-corruption, public participation in policymaking, digital governance, gender policy, civic inclusion, and transparency in public policy.

The Cabinet approved information regarding an agreement between the Ministry of Tourism and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) aimed at implementing the project “Supporting the Transition to Tourism Industry 4.0 in Montenegro Driven by Digital Technologies.” This project seeks to enhance digital skills in Montenegro and apply them within the tourism, culture, and related economic sectors. The main objectives include:

• Diversifying tourism offerings through the adoption of digital technologies and the development of innovative tourism products;
• Bolstering destination branding and promotion via modern digital tools and interactive platforms;
• Advancing traditional and cultural industries through digital transformation in the interpretation and preservation of cultural heritage;
• Attracting new audiences and stakeholders with digital and hybrid tourism experiences;
• Improving the competitiveness of Montenegrin SMEs in tourism and creative industries;
• Enhancing national cultural heritage and sustainable tourism in alignment with EU and UN sustainable development goals;
• Creating new sustainable employment opportunities and increasing revenues in tourism and cultural sectors.
• Establishing partnerships with EU institutions and international networks like Europeana. Additionally, the project intends to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector and adjacent industries, empowering them to improve their offerings consistently with visitor expectations. This effort aims to enhance economic performance and the well-being of local communities. As stated in project documents, the Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, along with the Slovene Enterprise Fund and UNIDO, is committed to advancing Montenegro’s tourism sector through digital innovations. This initiative leverages best practices from Slovenia, developed through the “Digital Innovation of Cultural Heritage” (DICH) project, which focuses on the digitalization of cultural heritage and the creation of innovative tourism products. The total project budget amounts to €298,680, entirely financed through donations, with a planned realization period of 24 months from its initiation.

Additionally, the Cabinet adopted the Sectoral Collective Agreement for Social Welfare. This agreement, reached between the Government and the Union of Social Welfare Employees, stipulates salary increases for workers in this sector. The coefficients have been raised by an average of 14.5%, with specific increases ranging from 3.5% to 37.5% for social workers. This agreement aims to diminish wage disparities within the public sector and enhance working conditions for professionals in social and child welfare services.

The Cabinet also resolved to transfer property rights to the Podgorica Capital City for the construction of a temporary parking lot with traffic signage on a plot of land located at the previous Morača Barracks site, encompassing an area of 22,244 m².

Lastly, the basis for negotiating and concluding an Agreement on economic cooperation between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the United Arab Emirates has been established, and the draft text of the Agreement has been approved. As discussed, this Agreement aims to create a legal framework for bolstering economic cooperation in mutually beneficial sectors, including but not limited to: telecommunications, aviation, investments and promotion, infrastructure development, trade in goods and services, tourism, small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture, e-governance, and other areas deemed beneficial. The specific cooperation areas will be detailed via special protocols, agreements, and arrangements between the relevant authorities of both parties. Key motivations for this Agreement include strengthening economic ties, promoting cooperation among SMEs, encouraging a favorable investment climate, exchanging information on economic initiatives, facilitating business delegation visits, and supporting private sector participation in international fairs and exhibitions. The Agreement also recognizes strategic public interest projects, allowing the signatory parties to identify and explore specific strategic projects after discussions on economic development priorities and citizen welfare. Additionally, the Agreement proposes the establishment of a Joint Economic Commission consisting of representatives from both parties, and when necessary, members of other public or private sector entities. This Commission will coordinate and promote economic, trade, and technical cooperation, monitor the Agreement’s implementation, develop collaborations in specified areas, and propose solutions for any potential challenges. The Agreement is set to last for five years, automatically renewing for subsequent five-year periods, unless either party opts to terminate it. Moreover, the parties may mutually agree to supplement and amend the Agreement through special protocols, which will serve as integral components of the Agreement.