At today's session, the Government adopted the Decision on the Annual Plan for the Formation and Maintenance of Mandatory Reserves of Petroleum Products for 2025 and the Annual Plan for the Formation and Maintenance of Mandatory Reserves of Petroleum Products for 2025.
The formation of mandatory reserves, as they explained, is being carried out gradually, in accordance with the dynamics defined by the Action Plan, which the Government adopted on December 26, 2024.
"Article 32 of the Law on Security of Supply of Petroleum Products stipulates the obligation to adopt an Annual Plan that plans in detail the amount of reserves that the Administration should form by the end of the year, as well as the financial resources needed to implement procurement. This plan is necessary for the coordinated and transparent operation of the Administration in fulfilling its legal obligations," the Government announced.
They said that the Annual Plan for 2025 is a fundamental document that includes projected reserve quantities, the necessary funds collected through fees to finance mandatory reserves, an overview of available storage capacities, and the procurement policy and other key activities of the Hydrocarbons Administration.
"Given that the law regulating the subject area was adopted in December 2024, and that the by-laws were adopted in February 2025, it was necessary to collect precise data on revenues and needs in order for the plan to be realistic and feasible. In accordance with the legal framework, the minimum amount of mandatory reserves is defined based on the average daily net import or consumption of petroleum products, while the Administration forms and maintains a minimum of 50% of total reserves, increased by reserves for importers with a smaller volume of imports. The Administration acts as a market entity, purchasing, storing and controlling the quality of derivatives, with the principle of transparency, market neutrality and cost minimization," it added.
Based on data on the import, export and consumption of petroleum products and the amount of commercial reserves of petroleum products in 2024, the obligation to form reserves for the period from July 1 this year to June 30, 2026 in the amount of a total of 112.340 metric tons has been determined. This amount, as explained, is equivalent to the amount of 90 days of net imports and represents the total amount, or obligation, of Montenegro, to be fulfilled by the Administration and importers of petroleum products.
"By adopting the Annual Plan, the Administration ensures the timely and efficient implementation of legal obligations, guaranteeing that mandatory reserves will be formed within the prescribed deadlines and quantities, thereby contributing to the security of supply of petroleum products in Montenegro, and the fulfillment of obligations from the accession negotiations, since the formation of mandatory reserves of petroleum products represents one of the three key benchmarks for the closure of negotiating Chapter 15 - Energy," the statement reads.
The Government also adopted the Proposal for Amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Illegal Business, with a report on the public hearing.
"The amendments to the law in question will provide conditions for improving tax discipline of taxpayers in order to prevent the performance of unregistered activities or the establishment of companies contrary to the law," the statement added.
This way, as they explained, it will contribute to combating the shadow economy and preventing tax avoidance, or tax evasion.
The proposed legal solution gives the tax authority the opportunity to block the accounts of companies and entrepreneurs that have not registered, or have not harmonized their documents and organization in accordance with the Law on Business Companies, as well as companies that had an obligation but did not register in any register in accordance with the law.
"Also, in order to improve and facilitate the way taxpayers do business, the aforementioned amendments propose a solution that will enable taxpayers to transfer funds, in addition to an account opened with a bank, also through a payment institution, or electronic money institution that has an approval to provide payment services, in accordance with the law regulating payment transactions," the Government said.
As highlighted at the session, the proposed amendments stipulate that organizers of games of chance may set the cashier's maximum amount higher than the prescribed amount, only with prior approval from the tax authority.
Also, in order to reduce the number of taxpayers who avoid settling due tax claims by initiating bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings, and continue to operate by opening another company, these amendments, as an improvement to the existing solution, prohibit the establishment of a new company or registration as an entrepreneur for a person against whom bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings have been opened, as well as a person who has a stake of more than 25 percent in the capital of a company against whom bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings have been opened, who do not settle tax liabilities, or whose accounts are blocked in the forced collection procedure.
The Information on the Analysis of Digital Flows and Tools in Tourism in Montenegro was also adopted.
The analysis of existing digital tools for tourist registration in Montenegro aimed to assess the current state, identify challenges, and develop the concept of a unified tourism information system that will improve data management and digital transformation of the sector.
"It included a review of the legislative framework, stakeholders, existing systems and business processes, and provided recommendations for more efficient inter-institutional cooperation, improving the legislative framework, reducing the shadow economy and reducing the administrative burden," the statement said.
The current situation is characterized by a lack of an integrated system and digital maturity, which implies the existence of fragmented systems - dozens of partially developed software solutions that are not interoperable with existing central systems or with each other.
In this sense, the introduction of the Tourist Information System (TIS) is a strategic priority of the Government, in line with the objectives of the Reform Agenda 2022–2026 and national digital transformation documents.
As a central digital platform for recording tourists, accommodation facilities, check-in and check-out, as well as fee management, TIS will provide accurate, up-to-date and accessible data in real time for all relevant institutions.
The Government recognizes TIS as one of the key instruments for increasing the efficiency of public administration, combating the shadow economy and strengthening the competitiveness of the tourism sector, therefore its urgent implementation is necessary in order to establish a transparent, sustainable and efficient tourism management system.
On this occasion, the ministries of tourism and public administration are tasked with continuing activities towards the introduction of TIS, which will enable automatic monitoring, better data recording and transparency, automation and acceleration of processes, reduction of administration and the grey economy, as well as better planning and increase in tax revenues.
The Government has also adopted the Forest Management Program for this year. The funds for the implementation of the Program are planned to amount to 7.497.959 euros.
The adoption of the Program and its implementation, in terms of the provisions of the Forest Law, have the task of quantifying forest management measures, by scope, type and time of implementation on an annual basis, in accordance with forestry planning documents, all with the aim of ensuring sustainable management and administration of forest resources.
"Sustainable forest management, in accordance with the Forest Law, includes ensuring a natural way of forest regeneration and natural selection, encouraging a mixed structure of stands that are adapted to habitat conditions, ensuring the preservation of the permanent productive capacity of forests and improving the forest fund in terms of quantity and quality and increasing forest yields, improving the vitality and ecological stability of forests, ensuring the preservation of the biological diversity of forests, forest land and water regime, as well as other beneficial impacts that forests have on the environment and people," the statement concludes.
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