Montenegro and Hungary will sign an Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Infrastructure Development, which opens up space for the implementation of key infrastructure projects, including the construction of a highway and the modernization of the railway.
The proposal for this agreement was adopted by the Government yesterday, and the Prime Minister Milojko Spajic will, as stated, lead the Delegation that is to conclude this agreement with the Hungarian Government.
"Specific infrastructure projects are of strategic importance. Among them are the Railway Development Project and the Highway Development Project. Hungarian companies are involved in the implementation of these projects as main contractors and operators, with a special regime that allows direct engagement without the need for public procurement, in accordance with the national legislation of Montenegro. Also, these projects are qualified as investments of particular importance for the national economies of both countries," the draft agreement states.
Five-year agreement
It further states that this agreement fully respects Hungary's obligations as a member of the European Union, as well as Montenegro's legal framework in the context of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. This ensures that the implementation of joint infrastructure projects is in line with European integration and relevant legal standards.
The Agreement is concluded for a period of five years, unless terminated earlier by written notice, after which the termination shall take effect six months from the receipt of the notice.
It is planned that the Hungarian Government will consider the possibility of participating financially in these two projects - the construction of a highway and the modernization of a railway - which would be subject to the conclusion of special agreements, as well as proposing its companies that would be the main contractors with whom Montenegro would conclude strategic cooperation agreements.
The Government also adopted a proposal to negotiate and conclude an Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Law Enforcement Development with Hungary.
"Having in mind the joint analysis of the priorities of economic development and the well-being of their citizens, both sides have identified specific projects that are considered of strategic importance for fulfilling the objectives of this Agreement, namely the development of a State Data Center primarily for the needs of the Government of Montenegro and the establishment of a high-capacity telecommunications network based on optical fibers that connects the main state institutions using state infrastructure corridors with the exception of the optical infrastructure that will be used for the needs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, i.e. the security sector, which will be implemented in accordance with NATO standards," reads the draft agreement, which foresees that the Government of Hungary will propose a company that would be involved in this work as the main contractor with which the State of Montenegro would sign a special agreement, and a special financing contract would also be signed.
Another project that would be worked on is the development of law enforcement technology and the improvement of the electronic public administration system, which would involve Hungarian companies with whom a special agreement would be signed in addition to financing agreements.
Spajić, in a statement to the media, said that agreements in the areas of infrastructure, telecommunications, innovative technologies, energy, health, and public administration reform will mark the beginning of the most intensive cooperation ever with Budapest and Paris and create conditions for the implementation of projects of strategic importance.
The French are building a University Clinical Center
The Government also adopted the basis for conducting negotiations and concluding an Agreement with the Government of the Republic of France on the implementation of priority projects in Montenegro.
"Particularly noteworthy is cooperation on important projects such as the construction of the new University Clinical Center in Podgorica, modernization of the electricity grid, development of renewable energy sources, digital transformation and construction of transport infrastructure. The second part of the Agreement makes the financial aspect of cooperation one of the most important elements of the Agreement. The Agreement regulates in detail the sources of financing, such as grants, loans, guarantees and technical assistance, which the Government of the Republic of France and its institutions, such as the French Development Agency (AFD) and the AFD Group, can provide for the implementation of projects. The Agreement clearly defines the conditions for the mobilization of funds, including the signing of special contracts, protocols and memoranda of understanding, as well as the procedures for the use of financial instruments. Special attention in the Agreement is paid to prescribing the conditions for concluding commercial contracts, which regulate the details of exports, procurement, performance of works and delivery of services. These contracts must be in line with relevant legislation and subject to prior approval by both parties, in order to ensure transparency and efficiency of project implementation," the Government document states.
As it is added, a special part of the Agreement includes provisions regulating tax issues, as well as payment conditions and the currency regime, which in this case is defined in euros, thus ensuring the clarity and security of financial transactions.
Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović said that after a year and a half of intensive communication, they are close to concluding an agreement with France that covers five areas.
"From the design and construction of a university hospital, through cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources, road infrastructure and e-government, to the design and construction of an administrative center within the Montenegro Business District," said Adžović.
Ukraine will help develop e-government services
The basis for conducting negotiations and concluding an agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of Ukraine on the provision of e-government services has also been established. The agreement will establish a legal framework for e-services, which are developed to an enviable level in Ukraine, to be provided to the citizens of Montenegro. Namely, after considering the priorities of economic development and the well-being of citizens, a specific project has been identified that is considered strategic in fulfilling the objectives of the future Agreement, and which relates to the provision of e-government services in Montenegro.
The Government of Ukraine shall provide e-government services to the Government of Montenegro, which shall, in turn, provide financial compensation. The amount of compensation, as well as the specification of the required e-government services, shall be defined by a separate agreement. In order to fulfill the agreed upon, in full compliance with the relevant laws of Montenegro, this Agreement, as well as the agreement defining the amount of compensation and the specification of the required e-government services, shall not be subject to public procurement, public tender, public competition procedure or any other procedure defined in the national legislation of Ukraine or Montenegro after ratification of the Agreement.
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