Press release from the 80th Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held its 80th session today, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, which stipulates that the judges and the President of the Constitutional Court shall be entitled to a functional allowance amounting to 30% of their base salary. This amendment aligns their rights with other holders of judicial functions. The initiative reflects the principle that judges are entitled to remuneration in accordance with the dignity and responsibility of their position. During the session, it was emphasized that adequate judicial salaries are fundamental for ensuring judicial independence and financial security. As a transitional solution until the adoption of the Law on Salaries and Other Rights in the Exercise of Judicial and Constitutional Judicial Functions, the introduction of a functional allowance through organizational laws was proposed. This measure aligns with the Judicial Reform Strategy 2024–2027 and the accompanying Action Plan, which foresee, under Measure 1.1.2., the preparation of a draft law regulating the financial status of judicial officeholders. The Government’s Work Programme envisions the adoption of a special law on salaries in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the Capital Market, along with the public consultation report. These amendments aim to harmonize national legislation with the EU acquis, resolve ambiguities in interpretation, and improve the clarity and application of legal provisions. The changes include strengthening the supervisory role of the Capital Market Commission, allowing the establishment of investment firms as limited liability companies, revising deadlines, updating definitions, and enhancing licensing requirements to ensure stronger oversight. As highlighted during the session, these amendments will contribute to increased transparency, efficiency, and integrity of Montenegro’s capital market, promoting investor confidence and supporting sustainable economic growth.

The Cabinet adopted the Decision on Determining the List of Regulated Professions, which updates the existing 2018 list. The new list contains 129 regulated professions, following the adoption of new laws over the past years. It includes an overview of regulated professions, competent authorities, and the applicable regulations. The update was prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue.

The Cabinet adopted the Information on the Restructuring Plan for the Institute for Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology "Dr Simo Milošević" Igalo, along with the full restructuring plan. The plan is a comprehensive strategic document aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Institute through modern economic and health standards. It outlines several guiding principles: 1. Preserving the Institute as a key healthcare institution with significant importance for both Montenegro’s health system and medical tourism sector. 2. Financial recovery and stabilization of operations. 3. Organizational restructuring and digitalization to increase productivity and reduce costs. 4. Active involvement of minority shareholders in the restructuring and recapitalization process. Following an assessment of six strategic options, the Government selected a model based on rehabilitation in Phase II with proportional recapitalization and partial divestment. This model minimizes state aid and investment needs by excluding the repurchase of shares from major minority shareholders, instead requiring their participation proportional to their ownership stakes.

The Cabinet adopted an Opinion on an Amendment to the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Recognition of Foreign Educational Qualifications and the Equivalence of Qualifications, submitted by MPs Darko Dragović, Dragana Vukčević, and Branka Marković. The amendment introduces a new Article 27a, which allows the Government to temporarily suspend the recognition of educational qualifications for employment in public interest sectors (e.g. education, healthcare, security) in cases where:

- The institution issuing the qualifications is under criminal investigation;

- The institution has been banned due to illegal practices;

- The number of recognition requests is disproportionately high compared to similar domestic qualifications. The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation supported the amendment, citing the need to safeguard the public interest in vital societal sectors.

The Cabinet adopted the Decision on the Establishment of the Limited Liability Company “Spatial Planning Agency of Montenegro”. One of the central elements of the new spatial planning policy, as defined by the Law on Spatial Planning, is that the development of spatial planning documents—governing the use of the country’s most valuable resource, its territory—should fall exclusively under the competence of the State or local governments. Accordingly, Article 34 of the Law stipulates that planning documents are to be prepared by a commercial entity that meets specific legal criteria—namely, an entity established by the Government for drafting national planning documents, and an entity established by a local government for drafting municipal-level plans. In addition to developing national planning documents, the newly established agency will collect relevant data and documentation, inform the public during the planning process, conduct reviews of local planning documents, and perform other duties as defined by law and its founding act. The financial resources required for establishing the company—amounting to €500,000—will be secured from the State Budget, through the budgetary allocation of the government body responsible for spatial planning, urbanism, and state property.