The Parliament adopted the Law on Limiting Prices

The Assembly adopted the Law on Temporary Measures for Limiting the Prices of Products of Special Importance for People's Life and Health.

48 MPs voted for that law, and no one was against it.

That draft law was prepared by the previous Government, that is, the Ministry of Economic Development (MER), and the new Government decided at the session on May 5 that it would stick with the proposed act.

The Minister of Economic Development, Goran Đurović, in his introductory speech, said that the law provides for the creation of a legal framework for limiting prices in cases of serious inflationary risks, as well as disruptions in the market, and a by-law will determine the list of products to which the law applies, with the obligation to the decision is reviewed every three months.

As he explained, the products that will be on the list will depend on the Government's assessment at the given moment, and that the measures that the Government can prescribe in order to limit prices refer to the determination of the maximum retail price, the fixed price of the product and the margin.

He pointed out that such legal solutions already exist in the countries of the region, as well as that measures will be taken in agreement with businessmen, so that they would not be at a loss.

Đurović (DF): The law is not applicable and sustainable

Democratic Front (DF) MP Dejan Đurović said that this law is not applicable and sustainable.

"The law did not specify the situations in which it will be applied, when temporary measures can be introduced, what those measures are, and it does not provide a list of products to which the measures would apply. The application of this law requires an analysis that would contain all positive and negative effects "There wasn't even a round table, we didn't hear what the businessmen were thinking," he said.

He asked Minister Đurović which by-laws were passed along with this law, which, as he stated, was promised.

"This law can come to life only with by-laws," he said.

Member of Parliament of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Dragica Sekulić said that this law completes the package of anti-crisis measures, along with laws on lower excise taxes and reduction of the VAT rate on certain household items.

SNP MP Dragan Ivanović said that the adoption of the law was delayed, and that they are reacting at the last moment.

"The government will have great responsibilities to control all of this," Ivanovic said.

Member of the Citizens' Movement URA Božena Jelušić stated that in the past period they dealt with matters that do not concern the standards of citizens.

She believes that the implementation of this law should be monitored in particular, so as not to endanger small businesses.

Šehović: The law is being defended by a minister who does not believe in it

Montenegro is the only country in Europe that does not have such a legal solution, said Damir Šehović (Social Democrats), who said that the law carries a whole series of dilemmas.

"It is discouraging that this law is being defended by the minister (Goran Đurović), who until just a few days ago said that it was inadequate, unenforceable and counterproductive. How are you going to apply a law that you do not believe in," Šehović asked Đurović, alluding to an earlier position that Đurović stated in a televised debate with Jakov Milatović.

He added that the amendment will act to determine the category of products to which the law would apply.

"It is logical that subsidies should be proposed with this law in order to protect especially small and medium-sized enterprises that we target with this law, so that they do not go out of business," said Šehović.

Šehović reproached the new government for not using the legal possibility to lower excise duties on fuel by 50 percent, instead of 40 percent.

Bosniak Party MP Amer Smailović said that the party will support the law, and Liberal Party (LP) MP Andrija Popović confirmed the same on behalf of the LP and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Nimanbegu: The law is populist and unenforceable

On behalf of the Albanian parties, Genci Nimanbegu said that this law is populist and that it is unenforceable.

"Nowhere are the measures that will limit the price of the product" he said and added that the lack of the law is that there is no deadline for how long the price restrictions will last, and there is no list of products to which the law applies.

Minister Đurović: We will implement measures in agreement with the economy

Minister Đurović, in his answers to the MPs, said that the answer to the way of applying the measures lies in the agreement between the economy, trade unions and the government.

He stated that the law includes measures: determining the maximum retail price, determining the fixed price of the product, limiting margins, returning prices to the previous level, etc.

He added that they deliberately did not specify in the law the groups of products to which it refers, so as not to end up in a situation where a product that is not on the list appears over time.

Regarding commodity reserves, he said that the state does not have the money to provide commodity reserves for a multi-year period, and he pointed out that it is also problematic that they have an expiration date.

He agrees that the country should have oil reserves.

"I have information that a lot needs to be invested in order for those plants to be operational," he said.

He called on the deputies to contribute to any future law that the Ministry of Economic Development may pass.

In response to MP Šehović, he said that the Government in which he previously served could pass the law, and that his complaint that the law was passed late does not stand, because, as he stated, the new Government could not have done it earlier.

Regarding the contradiction mentioned by Šehović, Đurović said that his role is different now, than when he was the vice-president of the party (URA), and that he now has a different responsibility.

The Committee for Economy accepted the SD amendment

MP Boris Mugoša of the Social Democrats (SD) said that the party submitted an amendment that refers to measures to limit the prices of products, which are: determining the highest price level, lowering prices to a certain level, regulating the margin, etc.

It also defines which products are of special importance for people's life and health, namely food items, personal hygiene products, baby food and equipment, heating products, household chemicals.

The Committee for Economy, Finance and Budget, which sat after the hearing, accepted that proposal together with Minister Đurović, and it will become an integral part of the bill.