SDP demands an increase in the amount of subsidies for farmers and the acquisition of stationary radar systems

Member of the Presidency of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mirko Stanić, said that the party proposed several more amendments to the budget for 2021. With the amendments, they requested an increase in the amount of subsidies for agricultural producers, as well as for the purchase of stationary radar systems, in order to increase traffic safety on Montenegrin roads.

"Montenegro has 500.000 ha of agricultural land, of which about 87% is pastures and meadows, and the rest is arable land. When we divide the proposed subsidy funds into these areas, we get a sum that is ridiculously small compared to European countries. Also, these funds include subsidies in animal husbandry", announced Stanić.

He reminds that the proposed budget envisages 34,046,759.98 euros of allocation from the national budget for the Ministry of Agriculture, which is 2.455.790.087,47 percent of the budget of 1,3, and which, according to Stanić, is the smallest in Europe. "For example, in Serbia, the legal obligation is 5%, although agriculture in Montenegro participates in the GDP with almost 9% and in Serbia 6%. Also, these funds include old-age benefits and some other benefits that do not belong to this sector, so direct payments , which is the basis of the agricultural budget, make up less than 1%, which is incomprehensible, given that this branch is foreseen as one of the key ones by the Government of Zdravko Krivokapić."

According to the SDP, the position of subsidies should be increased by one million euros, in order to help primarily the livestock sector, "which is in the worst situation ever, where a kilogram of milk is 0,32 euros, and a kilogram of concentrated feed is 0,42 euros". Stanić emphasized that such parity does not exist anywhere in Europe and that this is why "this sector is about to collapse". "With these funds, the situation would be bridged until the stabilization of the market," he said.

The SDP also proposed an amendment to the budget bill in which they requested funds for the purchase of stationary radar systems. "We considered the proposed amount of 2.2 million as a necessary investment in the safety of all road users, especially since the purchase of stationary radar systems was planned several years ago. The allocation of this money would be charged to the current budget reserve."

Stationary radar systems, explains Stanić, would be installed as a priority in areas and places where traffic accidents are frequent.

"Montenegro is the only country in the region that does not have a system of stationary radars, which helps the traffic police in controlling traffic in multiple ways, especially during the tourist season. In this way, the safety of responsible road users is significantly increased, while additional sanctions are imposed on arrogant drivers whose behavior endangers lives and citizens' property."

The introduction of these systems, as Stanić said, would reduce the need for the presence of a larger number of traffic police officers, "thus, in a short period of time, the budget savings necessary for this investment would be made."

"It remains for us to remind the public again and again, and in this way to publicly admonish the representatives of the authorities, that Montenegro is in the infamous European top in terms of the number of traffic fatalities and that the lives of citizens and their property are protected through such investments," the announcement concludes.