Montenegro has won the prestigious international award from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Foundation for excellence in tobacco tax policy, the Government of Montenegro announced.
The award was received by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, Ireland.
As announced by the Government, the MIME confirmed the intensive efforts of the Government and the Ministry of Finance in implementing proven effective measures to combat tobacco use and illicit trade in tobacco products.
"Montenegro remains deeply committed to reducing the availability of tobacco products, while at the same time combating the illicit trade in tobacco products in order to create a healthier, safer and more prosperous society. We are intensifying the fight against the illicit trade in tobacco – not only to protect budget revenues, but also to strengthen the rule of law and commitment to Chapters 23 and 24, which sets us apart from our predecessors and leads us towards the EU. This is a strategic priority and we remain committed to working with regional and international partners to build a safer and more resilient future," said Spajić.
The Ministry of Finance of Montenegro has received an award for measures implemented to reduce the availability of tobacco. According to the latest available data, the prevalence of tobacco use in Montenegro decreased by almost seven percent between 2019 and 2022. Montenegro has pledged to further reduce smuggling, increase taxes and tighten regulations to strengthen tobacco control.
"This award is not just a recognition for good results, it is a message to the world that Montenegro has, in a short period of time, become a leader in the field of tax discipline. By showing courage in tax policy, we protect health, the budget and the future. Such recognitions further motivate us to set new standards," said Minister of Finance Novica Vuković, highlighting the great contribution of people from his department in the implementation of the demanding process.
According to the government, the awards, which were presented for the first time since 2018, were presented by the founder of the foundation, Mike R. Bloomberg, as part of a conference that brought together over 1.300 experts and leaders in the field of public health, and one of the participants was Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin. The awards were given to the most successful examples of policies implemented in the previous period.
"The global tobacco control movement has helped save tens of millions of lives, making it one of the most successful public health efforts in history," said Bloomberg, who is also the WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries and the 108th mayor of New York.
"Bloomberg Philanthropy has long worked closely with the World Health Organization and others engaged in this vital work, and this year's winners of the Tobacco Control Awards demonstrate how much progress is possible."
Tobacco use claims more than seven million lives each year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite a global decline in smoking rates from 22,8 percent in 2007 to 16,4 percent in 2023, about one billion people worldwide still smoke. Tobacco companies invest billions in marketing each year, often targeting young people who are unaware of the dangers.
The Bloomberg Philanthropy Awards for Global Tobacco Control were first presented in 2009 at the World Health Conference on Tobacco or Health in Mumbai, and last in 2018, when the conference was held in Cape Town.
The Bloomberg Philanthropy organization awarded the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro as one of six organizations that have achieved exceptional achievements in this field.
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