The Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget gave the green light to all amendments submitted by the Government to this year's budget, while those submitted by the opposition were not voted on because they did not attend the session.
The final vote on these and other amendments will be given by the deputies in the plenary session.
The government submitted 14 amendments, while Finance Minister Novica Vuković explained in his explanation that they were submitted due to the failure to adopt the budget and temporary solutions, and that this is not a standard or natural way of managing finances.
Vuković emphasized that they relate to the creation of legal prerequisites for concluding a loan between the World Bank and Montenegro for the implementation of projects and modernization of infrastructure, the introduction of new projects into the capital budget, including the reconstruction of the promenade in Herceg Novi from Galeb to Tito's Villa, the rehabilitation of unsanitary landfills in Mojkovac and the Science and Technology Center, the reconstruction of a local road in Podgorica, road surfacing and maintenance, the construction of a fitness track around Trebjesa and the Sports and Recreational Park in Nikšić...
"This is an additional exhaustion of employees in the Ministry of Finance and participants in public administration, because these were things that should not have happened," Vuković said.
Democratic MP Albin Ćeman and his fellow MPs requested that the government provide an additional 200.000 euros in the budget for the construction of the Carpet House in Petnjica. He explained that this would protect this cultural asset, which currently does not have an adequate place to store it.
Vuković stated that they understand the need but that he recommends that the process be negotiated with the Ministry of Culture, and that the money, if it is not in their account, be then allocated from the budget. Ćeman said that they accept this proposal, because it is important to them that the money is allocated, which the Board adopted in the form of a conclusion.
"The government plane is not a priority"
MPs from the Special Club of MPs, Radinka Ćinćur and Jevrosima Pejović, have submitted an amendment to the budget, requesting that the article of the law regarding the purchase of an aircraft for the Government be deleted. They believe that the 25 million euros for the aircraft is not a priority in the current situation, and that the money could be used for roads, hospitals and schools.
"We think this is a luxury project that has no place in this year's budget. It could be used to open an SOS line to help citizens with mental health, which would operate 24 hours a day, for a longer period of time, and not just in crisis situations," Ćinćur said.
Vuković explained that they do not agree, that the plane will not be used only by the Government, that up to 25 million euros are planned, and that security measures must be taken. He stated that the Ministry of Health has the money for the SOS line, so they can analyze whether there is a need for such a line.
This amendment did not receive the support of the Committee, nor did the one submitted by Ćinćur for the reconstruction of a street in Pavino Polje, Bijelo Polje.
The budget enters into force upon publication in the Official Gazette.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee and MP from New Serbian Democracy Velimir Đoković presented the conclusion of several MPs, requesting that the Government include 600.000 euros, of which 250 will be for the construction of the Church of St. Petka in Danilovgrad, 200 for the Cultural Center of Bosniaks in Podgorica, as well as 150 euros to support the completion of works on cultural heritage in Tuzi.
Vuković added that the Ministry of Culture and Justice should prepare that money. Bosniak Party MP Mirsad Nurković added that the center for Bosniaks needs significantly more money, but that it is the first step and that it sends a good message because it involves three religious confessions.
This conclusion was given the green light by the Committee.
Europe Now Movement MP Dražen Petrić explained that his amendment refers to the beginning of the budget, that is, to enter into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette, because it did not begin on January 1st of this year, as planned. The committee also adopted this amendment.
A group of deputies from the Democratic People's Party, the Socialist People's Party, the Democrats, Europe United, the Bosniak Party, the Albanian Alliance and Forum, submitted a conclusion demanding the completion of multi-year projects in municipalities, including the asphalting of roads and the adaptation of infrastructure in Berane, Bijelo Polje, Gusinje, Petnjica, Pljevlja, Rožaje...
With this conclusion, they requested that the focus, in agreement with the municipalities, be placed on priority projects and not those for which project documentation is not ready. Vuković added that these projects are scheduled for 2025, and that he has nothing against it.
Petrić explained that this was a compromise because there were a huge number of projects.
Amendments by deputies from the Social Democrats, the Civic Movement URA and others were not adopted because the opposition did not attend the session.
MP from the Citizens' Alliance "CIVIS" Maja Vučelić withdrew the amendment and submitted a conclusion requesting guarantees for the money that will be allocated to the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, if needed. The committee accepted it.
Competition for the Senate of the State Audit Office begins
Three amendments were submitted to the decision on borrowing, one each from the Government, the Social Democrats and Petrić.
Vuković stated that, at the proposal of the Central Bank, a loan of eight million euros was proposed from the World Bank for the modernization of financial infrastructure and harmonization with SEPA standards. He explained that the loan would be repaid by the Central Bank, which the Board accepted.
The Social Democrats' amendment was not considered, while Petrić withdrew his because it had already been included in the budget.
Djokovic also announced at the session that they are initiating the procedure for appointing a member of the Senate of the State Audit Institution (SAI), given that Senate member Nikola Kovačević will be entitled to an old-age pension on March 28. Djokovic added that it is important for them to have a fully-fledged SAI.
He announced that the competition would be announced next week, that it would last 15 days, and that by law a person who is a lawyer must be selected.
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