Euromost: Millions of euros were spent on programs implemented by the ZZZCG, but the number of unemployed in the north increased

From 2013 to 2022, the number of unemployed people in the municipalities in the north of Montenegro increased by 13.142 people, despite the fact that in ten years millions of euros were spent on various programs implemented by the Employment Agency of Montenegro (ZZZCG).

This was announced by the NGO "Euromost", from where they state that in their research they used official data from the Ministry of Health of Montenegro, from December 31, 2013 to March 31, 2022.

According to these data, the number of unemployed people increased the most in Rožaje, by 4.410 people, where in 2013 there were 1.184 unemployed people, while that number increased to 2022 unemployed people in 5.594. In Berane and Petnjica together, there were 2013 unemployed people in 2.135, while that number in these municipalities increased by a total of 3.937. Thus, in 2022 there were 4.932 unemployed people in Berane, and 1.140 in the Municipality of Petnjica.

In third place is the Municipality of Plav, which together with the current Municipality of Gusinje had 2013 unemployed persons in 2013, while in 502 the Municipality of Plav has 2022 unemployed persons. Gusinje now has 2.187 unemployed persons.

In fourth place is the Municipality of Bijelo Polje with 761 more unemployed persons. The only municipality in the north of Montenegro where the number of unemployed persons decreased by 147, according to these data, is Žabljak.

"After this analysis and such an increased number of unemployed in the municipalities in the north of Montenegro, the question arises, what were the millions of euros spent on, which were given to employ citizens in the north and reduce the number of unemployed persons? Euromost has reasonable doubts that the millions of euros were spent not intended, which is the reason why we asked the Government of Montenegro to finally stop abuses through various employment programs, because it is clear from the official data that the money obviously went somewhere else and that not a single project was sustainable, nor were there any results", it was announced from this NGO.

In that NGO, they believe that programs for unemployed persons should be implemented, but that the spending of these funds must be controlled, because the priority of all priorities is to stop the migration of the population in the north of Montenegro through employment and the creation of jobs.

"But not in the way it was until now," stated Euromost. In the press release, the NGO points out that today they asked the Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica to investigate how funds were spent through the programs of the ZZZCG, and that they submitted evidence of possible abuses.