They discussed solving open issues between the state and religious communities

A meeting was held in the Ministry of Finance (MOF) with representatives of religious communities in Montenegro, with the aim of resolving open issues between the state and religious communities.

It was announced from that department that the representatives of religious communities thanked Minister Aleksandar Damjanović for his openness and readiness for dialogue, stressing that this is the first opportunity for them to present their point of view in a conversation with representatives of the Ministry of Finance. They presented that there are collisions in different legal solutions that treat their social rights and health, pension and disability insurance, pointing to technical difficulties and other legal doubts they have when it comes to these rights and obligations.

Damjanović concluded, as stated, that today's meeting is the first in a series with the aim of "actually solving evident problems", proposing the formation of a working group that will, as soon as possible, propose an optimal legal and institutional model for the future adequate treatment of all open issues.

Director of the Revenue and Customs Administration, Vladimir Bulajić, emphasized that, from the aspect of his competences, he will contribute to the speedy resolution of the aforementioned problems, especially in the context of the current tax reform, which implies the improvement of the information system, in which, as he emphasized, religious communities should also be adequately recognized.

State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Ilija Vukčević concluded that the current regulations defining tax and contribution obligations of persons performing religious services in religious communities are "insufficient and unclear" and that they need to be specified and improved.

"The meeting was concluded with the assessment that, in a partnership relationship, through intensified cooperation and a benevolent approach, it is possible to reach a solution to long-standing problems and a better legal regulation of this area," the announcement concludes.

The religious communities were represented at the meeting by Predrag Šćepanović (Mitropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral), Father Janez Mirtek and Simon Filipaj (Roman Catholic Church), Fuad Cekić and Refika Tuzović (Islamic Community), and the general director of the Directorate for Tax and customs system Biljana Peranović, as well as assistant director for collection at UPC Jelena Đukić and adviser at UPC Ljiljana Klikovac.