Today, the Montenegrin Cabinet convened for its 76th session under the leadership of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. During the session, amendments to the Draft Law on Free Access to Information were adopted. The 20 proposed amendments are designed to streamline the process of accessing information when requests are made electronically. If the competent authority is willing to grant a request and the applicant does not require a formal decision, access will be simplified. These amendments also seek to align the Draft Law with the 2003 Directive on the Re-use of Public Sector Information (Directive 2003/98/EC) and its 2013 amendments (Directive 2013/37/EU), specifically addressing the re-use of information from public enterprises, research organizations, and funding institutions. They include regulations on re-use licenses and exclusive rights in the re-use process. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency by allowing data to be published via the existing open data portal, adhering to the Directive’s principle that public sector content should be freely accessible under national law. This will facilitate real-time access to open-format data, aiding small and medium-sized enterprises and startups in leveraging this information for product and service development. Additionally, the amendments aspire to align the Draft Law with the EU acquis, especially concerning the Aarhus Convention on environmental protection and information. Montenegro has already largely integrated the Aarhus Convention requirements into its legal framework through the Law on the Environment, which outlines environmental information and requires both proactive and request-based disclosures. Furthermore, the amendments take into consideration various international standards, including Council of Europe documents and European Court of Human Rights case law. In compliance with the Tromsø Convention (Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents), the changes promote minimizing formalities for accessing information.

Moreover, the Cabinet approved the Decree on amendments to the regulations concerning the publication of the list of tax debtors. To maintain equality, the proposed decree requires the tax authority to publish quarterly lists of the top 200 taxpayers with the greatest outstanding tax debt across all types of taxes as of the date the list is created, provided they have not fulfilled their obligations within the legally established deadlines. It also mandates the publication of a list of the top 100 taxpayers with pending bankruptcy proceedings. The enactment of this decree is anticipated to enhance the existing system, bolster tax compliance, and positively affect the fiscal, financial, and macroeconomic stability of the nation.

The Cabinet also adopted the Information regarding the urgent necessity to address the liquidity crisis currently faced by the joint stock company Crnogorska plovidba – Kotor. Montenegro’s maritime industry is encountering significant challenges necessitating strategic planning and an adaptation to market dynamics for long-term viability. During the session, it was emphasized that the state-owned maritime companies – Barska plovidba in Bar and Crnogorska plovidba in Kotor – are crucial for maintaining maritime infrastructure, providing employment to seafarers, and connecting the nation to international markets. An assessment conducted by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs revealed that Crnogorska plovidba is over-leveraged and lacks liquidity, rendering it unable to fulfill its financial obligations. The company owes the Government of Montenegro €36.2 million. Furthermore, an overdraft debt of about €400,000 to Prva Banka is due in January 2025, and failure to address this debt swiftly could lead to enforced collection and account blockage, resulting in bankruptcy. To avert the bankruptcy of this fully state-owned entity, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has proposed a temporary resolution for Crnogorska plovidba’s liquidity crisis. This plan includes a business-technical cooperation model in which Barska plovidba would lease ships owned by Crnogorska plovidba, with Barska plovidba agreeing to make advance and successive payments to Crnogorska plovidba throughout 2025—up to €1 million—to assist with repaying the overdraft to Prva Banka, covering salary payments, and addressing other operational costs. This approach aims to prevent account blockage and mitigate bankruptcy risks. Concurrently, Barska plovidba would enhance its operational capacity to secure long-term leasing contracts, leading to increased revenues while also improving its ability to meet credit obligations to Exim Bank and manage its debt repayment to the state.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved Information regarding the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and the Moroccan Academy for Diplomatic Studies, part of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates. The purpose of this memorandum is to enhance collaborations between the two diplomatic academies through reciprocal and mutually beneficial activities. It will be effective for an initial three-year term and will automatically renew each year unless terminated with written notice at least three months prior to its expiration. This memorandum will facilitate joint training and exchanges, including courses in diplomacy and international relations for diplomats of both nations, internships for emerging diplomats, and knowledge/resource sharing comprising publications, media content, documentation, and experts/researchers in diplomatic fields. It will also involve collaborative initiatives like alternating conferences and other cooperative endeavors as agreed upon by both parties through joint consultations.

Lastly, the Cabinet adopted Information on the necessity to provide co-financing for the Anti-Doping Commission’s operations. The Ministry of Sports and Youth is tasked with reallocating €150,000 to the Commission’s bank account to guarantee the continuity of its operations and the execution of ongoing activities relating to both international and domestic anti-doping obligations. The Anti-Doping Commission is vital in safeguarding the integrity of sports in Montenegro by monitoring athletes for the possible use of prohibited substances. This duty arises from the International Convention against Doping in Sport and the World Anti-Doping Code. Montenegro is a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees adherence to these obligations, as non-compliance could lead to sanctions, including bans on athletes participating in international competitions.