Press release from the 101st Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held its 101st session, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Preschool Education. The purpose of adopting the new law is to improve and modernize the legal framework governing preschool education, align it with international standards, and address the shortcomings identified in the implementation of the current regulations. The existing legal framework does not ensure an efficient preschool education system, which leads to problems in practice and complicates the work of institutions. It is also necessary to harmonize the law with the General Law on Education and Upbringing and to fulfill the goals set out in the Education Reform Strategy 2025–2035. The new law will resolve existing deficiencies, legal gaps, and inconsistencies. In particular, it seeks to improve the availability of preschool services in rural and less developed areas, and to more precisely define the roles and responsibilities of parents, preschool institutions, and employees. The law also clearly defines the organization of educational activities and the content of annual work programmes; introduces different types of educational programmes; strengthens provisions concerning teaching and professional staff by introducing the position of early development assistant; and establishes norms and standards for hygiene and child nutrition. Additionally, the new provisions align the regulations on the enrollment of children with special educational needs with the Law on Unified Disability Assessment and the Amendments to the Law on Education and Upbringing of Children with Special Educational Needs, thereby supporting their inclusion in the education system and regulating their enrollment.

The Cabinet adopted the Decision on Defining Priority Areas of Public Interest and the Amount of Funds for Financing NGO Projects and Programmes in 2026. The legal basis for adopting this decision is contained in Article 32a, paragraph 6 of the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations. The Law prescribes a combined model of financing NGO projects and programmes – consisting of centralized programming of priority areas and funding levels, coordinated by the Ministry of Regional and Investment Development and Cooperation with NGOs, and decentralized distribution by the relevant government bodies included in the annual decision.

According to Article 32 of the Law, the state shall provide:

• Funds for financing NGO projects and programmes in areas of public interest, in the amount of at least 0.3% of the current annual budget;
• Special funds for the protection of persons with disabilities, in the amount of 0.1% of the current annual budget; and
• Funds for co-financing and interim financing of projects and programmes supported by EU funds, in the amount of at least 0.1% of the current annual budget.

The competent ministry launched the programming process in March 2026, defining priority areas and funding amounts for NGO projects and programmes. As noted in the discussion, eleven ministries prepared sectoral analyses and submitted them to the coordinating ministry, which consolidated all proposals and drafted the Decision Proposal, thus completing the programming phase for 2026. By adopting this decision, and in accordance with the Law on NGOs, the preconditions will be created for announcing public calls for the distribution of funds for NGO projects and programmes in 2026.

The Cabinet adopted amendments to the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners. The proposed amendments introduce additional benefits for regulating temporary residence for foreigners employed in the IT sector and healthcare, by removing the requirement to submit an employment contract indicating a net annual salary of at least three average net wages in Montenegro for the previous year. Instead, the minimum will now be set at two average net wages. As highlighted during the discussion, Montenegro faces a shortage of IT professionals, and state incentives are necessary to develop this workforce, as information and communication technologies represent a major development opportunity for the country and society. The lack of skilled personnel in the IT sector is one of the main threats to successful digitalization. Similarly, there is a strong need for qualified medical staff, especially in shortage occupations such as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. The proposed changes will improve access to healthcare personnel and facilitate the engagement of experts in these fields, thereby improving service continuity and the overall level of healthcare in Montenegro.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the Proposed List of Projects of Exceptional National Importance for Financing from the Capital Budget in 2026. The Ministry of Finance was instructed to include the following projects of exceptional national importance in the 2026 Capital Budget:

• Extension of the Kotor General Hospital annex;
• Reconstruction of the children’s ward of the Institute “Dr Simo Milošević” for school purposes;
• Expansion of the regional sanitary landfill “Možura”;
• Redevelopment of Goli Otok Victims Square with contruction of an underground garage;
• Construction of the extension of Save Kovačevića Boulevard and connection with Josip Broz Street in Podgorica;
• Construction of the Tuzi–Milješ–Dinoša road;
• Administrative and State Data Center within the LSL Central Business District;
• Procurement of equipment for the needs of the Police Administration.

The Ministry of Public Works was tasked with submitting to the Ministry of Finance a revised estimated cost of the selected projects, as well as the planned implementation schedule and the required amount of funding for 2026, prior to the finalization of the Draft Law on the Budget of Montenegro for 2026.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the Proposed List of Priority Capital Projects for Financing from the National Capital Budget in 2026, instructing the Ministry of Finance to include 22 projects from the list in the 2026 Budget Proposal:

• Rehabilitation of priority embankments at the Ulcinj Saltworks in the Kneta area, Ulcinj;
• Main design for the reconstruction of the Španjola Fortress (Phase II) for the needs of an international creative center, Herceg Novi;
• Reconstruction of the “Tanasije Pejatović” Gymnasium, Pljevlja;
• Extension of the primary school “Sutjeska,” Podgorica;
• Construction of an amphitheater and library for the Police Academy, Danilovgrad;
• Reconstruction of the maternity ward of the General Hospital in Nikšić;
• Reconstruction of the Orthopedic Clinic to establish an operating block and intensive care unit, Clinical Center of Montenegro, Podgorica;
• Reconstruction of the old medical and pathology buildings and procurement of a multifunctional hyperbaric chamber, General Hospital Berane;
• Adaptation of the biochemical laboratory and physiotherapy facilities in the Health Center Budva;
• Reconstruction and conversion of the former Đulići border post into a tourist and hospitality complex, Andrijevica;
• Rehabilitation of the Andrijevica–Jošanica road, Andrijevica;
• Construction of the city marketplace, Berane;
• Reconstruction of the Berane–Petnjica road in Budimlja with the addition of sidewalks and modification of the road axis, Berane;
• Reconstruction of the local road from Hotel Berane to Lisijevo Polje–Luška Street, Berane;
• Preparation of the main design and construction of the “Nova 1” road within the Ostrog–Glava Zete Detailed Urban Plan, Danilovgrad;
• Reconstruction of the city market, Mojkovac;
• Autism Center Nikšić;
• Construction of a utility and sewage network with accompanying facilities in the Zeleni settlement, Rožaje;
• Transition to an integrated eco-based municipal waste management system, Žabljak;
• Construction of a public garage, Žabljak;
• Reconstruction of the M-2 highway, section Virpazar (intersection with M1.1) – Golubovci bypass roundabout, Zeta;
• Reconstruction of the R-14 regional road, section Danilovgrad–Markovina, Phase I (km 0+000 to km 1+230), Danilovgrad.