Last year, the government borrowed 1,1 billion, and returned 719 million of the debt

Last year, the government borrowed one billion and 123 million euros, that is, 384 million more than planned. Of that amount, 719 million euros were spent to repay earlier debts, although the plan was 542 million. A part was set aside for the capital budget, which amounted to 391 million euros and was three million more than planned. Part of the debt of 204 million remained in state deposits, it was stated in the proposal of the final account of the budget of Montenegro for 2018, which was adopted by the Government yesterday.

Last year, 459 million euros were spent on the gross wages of employees in the public sector, or 14 million more than the year before. In the budget plan for last year, the government stated that it planned to spend 465 million euros for gross wages in the public sector, so now it can formally boast that it spent less. The fact is that this item grows year by year due to the increase in state administration, despite plans to reduce it. After the session, the Government boasted about reducing the cash deficit.

"The cash deficit of the budget for 2018 amounts to 168,9 million and constitutes 3,65% of GDP, and it is 67,96 million euros lower than in 2017 or 28,7%. If budget spending is reduced by expenditures for development projects, a cash surplus of 152,83 million or 3,3% of GDP was achieved, which indicates that current expenditures were financed from current revenues, thus fulfilling one of the main goals defined by the fiscal strategy. The surplus of the current budget for 2018 is 198,21% higher than last year's, or nominally by 101,81 million euros," said Dragan Darmanović, director of the State Treasury Directorate, after the session.

Budget spending in 2018 amounted to 1,9 billion euros, which is 6,2% higher than the previous year and 0,78% higher than the planned amount. Capital expenditures in 2018 amounted to 390,98 million and are higher by 35,81% compared to the previous year due to, as they stated, the intensification of the construction of the section of the Bar - Boljare highway.

"The national debt of Montenegro as of December 31, 12, amounts to 2018 billion euros or 3,15% of GDP and consists of an external debt of 68,26 billion and an internal debt of 2,76 million," he said. Darmanović, stating that the state's total deposits at the end of last year amounted to 392 million euros.

Yesterday, the government adopted a bill on fiscalization in the circulation of products, which was previously supported by the Competitiveness Council and opposed by part of the business community. The Government announced that this law will be applied from January 1, 2020, and that it will be a key normative solution in the fight against the informal economy. It should replace the current, as they stated, outdated system of fiscal cash registers.

"The goals of passing the new law are, among others, efficient control of transactions and delivery of products and services, gradual reduction of tax administration and creation of conditions for effective management of tax controls and forced collection procedures using exact data on taxpayers' operations," the Government announced. A report on the winter tourist season was adopted, according to which 153 thousand tourists visited Montenegro in the period December-March, who made 296 thousand overnight stays, that is, tourists stayed less than two days on average.

The decision established the public interest in the expropriation of several locations in Trebješica and Mateševo ​​needed for the water supply project of the future highway. For the needs of the highway, public interest has been determined in several locations in Rogami and Zlatica. The assessment and expropriation procedure will be carried out by the Real Estate Administration.

Even yesterday, the government did not allow "Vijesti" photojournalists to photograph the beginning of the government session, but now they have informed by email that they can use the recordings of the Government Public Relations Service. The practice in previous governments was for the media to record the beginning of the session, as well as at the beginning of the mandate of the current government, and the media are not obliged to broadcast other people's photos.

Help of reservists in floods, fires...

The proposed amendments to the Law on Defense will enable the engagement of reservists of the Army of Montenegro in peacetime, when the needs of the service require it.

"In the case of responding to fires, floods and the like, without declaring a state of war or emergency," Defense Minister Predrag Bošković said at a conference after the Government session.

Bošković added that the proposal stipulates that the Council for Defense and Security makes a decision on the use of Army units in the implementation of tasks related to support during natural and man-made disasters and other accidents, as well as contributing to internal security in peace within the Army's mission. to support other institutions.