Social Democrats (SD) MPs have submitted amendments to the 2026 Budget Bill.
These amendments, as the party announced, do not require new budget expenditures, but rather involve the redistribution of funds in a way that reduces planned expenditures for certain budget categories (officials, consultants, service contractors) and directs them towards "those who need them more" (socially vulnerable categories, the unemployed, micro and small enterprises).
"The proposal of the SD MPs envisages that the already large allocations for official travel and representation (9,5 million euros) be reduced by two million euros and that these funds be redirected to beneficiaries of material benefits, which is an obligation in accordance with the conclusions of the Parliament in the past few years, adopted at the proposal of the SD MPs, namely to increase the meager amounts for the most vulnerable categories (ranging from around 100 euros per individual to around 190 for a family of five), which have only been symbolically increased for years, and the fact is that the cost of living has increased significantly," the statement reads.
Also, the proposal of the SD MPs envisages that the "huge budget amounts" for service contracts (15,5 million euros) be reduced by one million euros and that these funds be directed towards providing free transportation for students and free snacks for children from socially vulnerable categories.
"Implementing activities towards the implementation of free transportation for students and free snacks for children from socially vulnerable categories is an obligation in accordance with the conclusions of the Parliament in the past few years, adopted at the proposal of SD deputies. The public is also informed of the findings of the competent audit institutions, as well as the NGO sector, which indicate that certain service contracts are used for illegal employment in the public sector."
The next amendment by SD deputies proposes, as they state, an increase in allocations for employment at the Employment Agency, i.e. the creation of new jobs, by one million euros, and for improving the competitiveness of the economy through financial support measures at the competent ministry by one million euros, in such a way as to reduce by that amount the funds for consulting services, which are planned at "as much as 50 million" in the 2026 Budget Proposal.
"The coverage of imports by exports is the lowest in the last 15 years and amounts to 12,4 percent, while Montenegro records the largest foreign trade deficit in the last 15 years, around 3,5 billion euros. Almost nothing is being done to improve the quality of our economy, as evidenced by the aforementioned facts, along with the fact that over 2.700 more companies are blocked today than a few years ago. In addition, the public is familiar with the findings of the competent audit institutions, as well as the NGO sector, which indicate that certain consulting contracts are being used for illegal employment in the public sector," said the SD.
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