Almost 770 thousand euros for 54 projects in the field of protection and preservation of cultural heritage

The government has allocated almost 770 thousand euros to co-finance 54 projects in the field of protection and preservation of cultural heritage.

The Government said that a report on the implementation of the program for the protection and preservation of cultural assets for last year was adopted and a program for the protection and preservation of cultural assets for this year was adopted.

As it is added, this year's program plans to co-finance 54 projects in a total amount of 769 thousand euros.

After the session, the Government said that 227 thousand euros had been allocated for 15 projects related to archaeological and conservation research.

It is added that 450 thousand euros have been allocated for the development of conservation projects and the implementation of conservation measures for 28 projects.

It is stated that 92 thousand euros have been allocated for the popularization and presentation of cultural heritage for 11 projects.

"The discussion emphasized that the implementation of the projects will contribute to improving the condition of cultural assets, spreading knowledge about the values ​​and significance of cultural heritage, and understanding different cultures," the statement said.

The Government adopted the Foreign Policy Strategy of Montenegro 2026-2029, with an Action Plan for its implementation for this year.

This document, as stated, includes an overview of objectives, areas and measures of importance for the achievement of the established foreign policy priorities of Montenegro, along with the corresponding action plan for its implementation, and the established strategic framework will contribute to the guidance and coordination of achieving measurable results in the next four-year period.

"The period to which this strategic document refers coincides with the period when Montenegro is expected to transition from a candidate country to a member state of the European Union (EU), which is confirmation of the reform process based on respect for European values," the government said.

According to them, the goal of the Strategy is to further improve the state's existing foreign policy activities and ensure a coordinated approach to protecting Montenegro's interests in international relations.

The Government also adopted a regulation amending the Regulation on prohibited and permitted methods of use, production and placing on the market of chemicals that pose an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment.

It is stated that the regulation transposes into national legislation bans and restrictions for chemicals that have been determined, through a detailed risk assessment in a centralized procedure in the EU, to pose an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment in certain uses or when found in certain products.

"These prohibitions and restrictions apply to certain substances, individually, in mixtures and/or in products of a wide variety of uses and types, including toys, cleaning products, textiles, materials and objects that come into contact with food, electronic equipment, etc.," the statement says.

The Government stated that the goal of adopting the regulation is to fully harmonize it with the latest amendments to relevant European Union regulations in this area, thus fulfilling the obligation from negotiating Chapter 27.

A Roadmap was adopted for implementing the remaining requirements of the ESA 2010 Data Transmission Programme and resolving remaining methodological issues.

As it is added, within the final phase of accession negotiations with the EU in the area of ​​Chapter 18 - Statistics, a Roadmap has been prepared for implementing the remaining requirements of the ESA 2010 data delivery program and resolving remaining methodological issues, which represents the second final benchmark for the provisional closure of this negotiating chapter.

"The European Commission has approved the content of the document and confirmed that it adequately addresses the fulfillment of the remaining obligations under this benchmark, which represents a significant indicator of the progress that Montenegro has made in the process of harmonization with the EU acquis in the field of statistics," the statement said.

It is added that the Roadmap defines activities, deadlines and competent institutions for the implementation of the remaining requirements, with the aim of fully fulfilling the obligations arising from the ESA 2010 Data Delivery Programme and closing the remaining methodological issues.

The Government also adopted a regulation on more detailed criteria, methods and procedures for exercising the right to a refund of part of the funds spent on the production of a cinematographic work.

The Regulation, among other things, prescribes deadlines, the obligation to submit clear evidence of the origin of funds, and methods of communication with the Film Center of Montenegro, in order to make the process of applying for a refund more efficient.

It is stated that certain measures have been introduced to improve the monitoring and control of applied projects, i.e. control of the implementation of the applied production phase and spending of funds, as well as control of the provision of support from the Center and the Film in Montenegro program, which promotes incentive measures for foreign filming in Montenegro.

It is added that the adoption of this regulation improves the refund program, which is increasingly popular and there is great interest in using it, in order to meet the needs of interested producers.

"But also preserved the cultural and economic quality of the program and ensured the efficient work of the Film Center of Montenegro and the Commission for Determining Proposals for the Exercise of the Right to Refund Funds Spent for the Production of a Cinematographic Work," the Government said.

They stated that a positive opinion was adopted on the Proposal for a Law on Amendments to the Law on the Protection of Equality and Prohibition of Discrimination, which was submitted to the Parliament of Montenegro by MP Ilir Čapuni.

A decision was also made to organize the Public Institution, the Geological Survey of Montenegro.

"In accordance with the Law on Geological Exploration, the decision creates normative prerequisites for the organization and operation of a public institution that will perform tasks of public interest in the field of geological exploration," the statement explains.

It is added that the decision envisages the reorganization of the existing Institute in accordance with new legal solutions, in order to ensure more efficient planning, coordination and implementation of basic and detailed geological research of importance to Montenegro, improve the management of geological data and documentation, strengthen the institutional capacities of the state in the field of geology and provide expert support for the implementation of policies in the field of mineral raw materials, spatial protection and sustainable use of natural resources.

"The establishment of the Public Institution ensures continuity in performing existing tasks, while expanding the Institute's competences in the implementation of national and international projects, the preparation of geological bases and maps, the management, processing and preservation of geological documentation, as well as the provision of expert support to state administration bodies in the planning and management of mineral resources," the statement says.