Press release from the 140th Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held its 140th session, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on amendments to the Law on Credit Institutions. The proposed amendments have been prepared with a view to further aligning the national prudential framework with the European Union acquis, and in particular in response to the findings, suggestions and recommendations of the European Commission under Negotiating Chapter 9 – Financial Services. The amendments cover several areas relevant to the functioning and supervision of credit institutions, including prudential requirements, cross-border operations and the supervision of branches of credit institutions from third countries, corporate changes of credit institutions, corporate governance, risk management and supervisory reporting.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on amendments to the Law on Capital Market. The current Law, which entered into force on 19 February 2026 and will apply from the date of Montenegro’s accession to the European Union, constitutes the basic legal framework governing the functioning of the capital market in Montenegro, including the provision of investment services and performance of investment activities, the operation of regulated markets, multilateral and organised trading systems, clearing and settlement of financial instruments, the operations of central counterparties, as well as the supervision of entities and activities in the capital market. The proposed amendments and supplements have been prepared with a view to further aligning the national regulatory framework with the European Union acquis, and in particular in response to the requirements and suggestions of the European Commission under Negotiating Chapter 9 – Financial Services. The amendments cover various areas relevant to the functioning and supervision of the capital market, including rules concerning investment firms, market organisation and supervision, transparency and execution of orders, risk management, commodity derivatives, clearing and settlement, central counterparties, cross-border provision of services, cooperation between competent authorities, as well as supervisory measures and sanctions.

As part of the process of aligning with the European Union acquis in the area of waste management, the Cabinet adopted:

• Decree on the manner and procedure for establishing a system of taking, collecting and treatment of waste batteries and the operation of such a system;
• Decree on the manner and procedure for establishing a system of taking, collecting and treatment of end-of-life vehicles;
• Decree on the manner and procedure for establishing, organising and operating a system of taking, collecting and treatment of waste packaging and waste from single-use plastic products, as well as targets for the collection of plastic bottles;
• Decree on the manner and procedure for establishing an organised system of taking, collecting and treatment of waste tyres; 
• Decree on the manner and procedure for establishing an organised system of taking, collecting and treatment of waste fishing gear containing plastic;
• Decree on the manner and procedure for establishing a system of taking, collecting and treatment of textile product waste and the operation of such a system.

It was emphasised during the discussion that the adoption of these acts represents a continuation of intensive activities undertaken as part of Montenegro’s commitments, with the aim of ensuring continuity in the development and improvement of the waste management system, namely by improving existing and developing new measures, mechanisms and instruments for the management of specific waste streams, with a view to ultimately achieving the ambitious targets set under Negotiating Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the need to procure equipment for establishing a system for the management of animal by-products. The Information states that the process of establishing the limited liability company Prerada nusproizvoda životinjskog porijekla (Processing of animal by-products) is under way. The company will be responsible for the collection, transport, temporary storage, processing and disposal of Category 1 and Category 2 animal by-products as activities of public interest. As an interim solution until the construction of a national processing facility, the procurement of two mobile incinerators of different capacities, four specialised collection and transport vehicles, refrigerated and veterinary containers, generators, and mobile washing and disinfection units is planned. The equipment is to be distributed so as to ensure coverage of the northern, central and southern parts of Montenegro, with links to regional collection facilities and clearly defined collection routes. The estimated value of the complete system is approximately €2.2 million. The method of financing and the entity responsible for the procurement will be determined at a later stage, taking into account the timeline for establishing the company and the available sources of funding. The procurement of this equipment will reduce risks to human and animal health and the environment, improve procedures in regular and emergency situations, and enable Montenegro to fulfil its obligations under Negotiating Chapter 12 – Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy.

At the proposal of the Public Investment Council, the Cabinet adopted the Information on the draft list of priority capital projects to be financed from the state capital budget in 2027. In accordance with its responsibilities, the Public Investment Council considered the Draft List submitted by the Commission for Project Evaluation following the completion of the relevant procedure and identified priority and procedural steps aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of new projects. The Council adopted the proposed final list of projects to be financed from the capital budget for 2026, containing 28 projects with a total value of €78,511,231. The Council recommended that certain projects be financed through cumulative activities in the areas of tourism, culture and utility infrastructure.

Furthermore, at the proposal of the Ministry of Public Works, projects aimed at improving infrastructure for animal welfare and care and constructing a new Investigation Prison in Spuž were included in the List of priority projects to be financed from the capital budget.

The project to improve infrastructure in the area of animal welfare and care will enable the construction of new shelters and reception facilities for abandoned animals, as well as the reconstruction and improvement of existing ones, together with the development of supporting infrastructure, in accordance with the needs identified by local self-government units.

At the same time, the implementation of the project for a new Investigation Prison in Spuž will improve accommodation capacities and conditions for persons in detention, while creating conditions for meeting relevant European standards and complying with the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

The Cabinet adopted the Updated Water Management Strategy until 2035 with the Action Plan for the period 2025–2028. The key objective of the Strategy is to provide a framework for water management policies aimed at the sustainable management of Montenegro’s water resources, the use of water and the protection of water resources through the preservation of the ecological and chemical status of water bodies, the protection of aquatic ecosystems and the minimisation of risks arising from the harmful effects of water, all through the alignment of national policies with European standards and directives in the field of water management and the long-term establishment of a unified and fully harmonised water regime throughout Montenegro, within each of its two river basins – the Adriatic and Danube basins. The need to prepare the updated Strategy arose from changes in the legislative and institutional framework, progress in the EU accession process, new knowledge and data on the state of water resources, as well as growing challenges related to climate change and its impact on the water regime. Compared with the 2017 Strategy, the updated document places particular emphasis on integrating climate change adaptation aspects, managing risks from extreme hydrological events (droughts, floods and flash floods), improving monitoring and data management systems, and aligning with the latest requirements of the EU acquis in the field of water management. The updated Strategy is also based on updated data on the status of surface and groundwater, water infrastructure, institutional capacities and the needs for further development of the water sector.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the organisation of the 2026 Digital Summit of the Western Balkan Countries in Montenegro, 12–14 October 2026. The Information states that, following a change in the originally planned host, the Government of Montenegro assumed responsibility for organising the Summit within a shortened timeframe, requiring intensive and coordinated preparations for the event. The Digital Summit of the Western Balkan Countries has been held since 2018 and represents one of the most important regional platforms for dialogue and cooperation in the field of digital transformation. It was established as part of the digital integration process envisaged by the Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area, endorsed by the leaders of the Western Balkans at the 2017 Berlin Process Summit in Trieste. Taking into account the overall requirements for organisational, technical, logistical, protocol and communications activities, the Cabinet approved the allocation of €150,000 from the current budget reserve to complete the financing structure. The remaining funds will be provided through donor support and sponsorship, bringing the total financial framework for organising the 2026 Digital Summit to €420,000.

Among other decisions, the Cabinet adopted the Decree on the criteria and procedure for awarding the titles of doyen and leading figure and the composition of the commission for awarding these titles. The adoption of the Decree is envisaged by the Law on Amendments to the Law on Theatre Activities, which entered into force on 17 July 2026 and, for the first time, explicitly established a legal basis for regulating in greater detail the criteria and procedure for awarding the highest drama titles, as well as the composition of the commission responsible for their award. The adoption of this Decree creates the conditions for the award procedure to be based on clearly defined artistic and professional criteria, taking into account an individual’s professional body of work, established artistic reputation, significant awards and recognitions, and contribution to the development of theatre in Montenegro. At the same time, by prescribing the composition of the commission in greater detail, the Decree ensures that decisions on awarding these titles are made by a body composed of recognised artists with relevant experience and professional authority in the fields of culture and theatre, thereby further strengthening the expertise, impartiality and credibility of the decision-making process.