In the proposed budget for the following year, the government provided significantly more money for the Assembly, and increased allocations for the Office of the President of Montenegro, as well as the ministries of defense, foreign and European affairs.
On the other hand, the budget of the Ministry of Justice was cut by 2,2 million euros compared to this year's, according to the Budget proposal published on the Parliament's website.
On Friday, the Government adopted the Budget Bill for the next year and sent it to the Parliament for adoption. The original budget revenues for the next year are planned at 2,88 billion euros, and expenditures at 3,16 billion. This means that the budget deficit is planned at 278 million euros or 3,5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
The total proposed budget of the Assembly for the next year amounts to about 14,49 million euros, which is about three million more than this year's.
Out of that, 3,29 million euros are earmarked for the gross earnings of MPs, about 300 more than this year, and 4,22 million (about a thousand euros less) for the parliamentary administration. After the entry into force of the Europe Now 2 program, minimum wages were increased (to 600 and 800 euros depending on the level of education), but contributions to pension and disability insurance (PIO) were reduced, which did not lead to a significant increase in total costs for gross wages. However, the Government has announced an additional salary increase for all public officials for the next year, through the Draft Law on Salaries in the Public Sector, which is under public debate.
"Not all MPs want advisers"
There is no special item in the budget for future MP advisors, although the President of the Assembly announced it Andrija Mandic. Last week, he said in parliament that a new item will be included in the budget proposal for next year, according to which each member of parliament will be able to have "one adviser who will help him in his work".
Minister of Finance Novica Vuković he said yesterday at the press conference that he leaves the issue of the engagement of MPs' advisors and the costs on that basis to the MPs.
"Let them decide when voting on the budget whether they need assistants and whether the funds from their budget will go to that or to the construction of a kindergarten... I think that the Movement Europe Now Club (PES) has exempted itself from accepting part of the assistants" , said Vuković.
He added that the Assembly's assessment was that for their smooth operation they needed as much as the media stated, but that they were not given the full amount of the budget they requested.
There are 81 deputies in the Assembly. If each of them were to hire a consultant, who would receive an average gross salary that recently amounts to around 1.200 euros, the citizens could pay 97.200 euros per month, 1.166.400 euros per year, and 4.665.600 for the four years that the parliament's mandate lasts. euros.
In the budget of the Assembly for the next year, it is planned to allocate one million euros for the official trips of deputies, about 350 thousand more than this year.
Expenses for fuel will amount to 70 thousand (five thousand euros more), and representation costs will be 67 thousand euros, seven thousand more than this year. The fee for housing and separate living is 45 euros, the same as this year.
On the bill on the budget
Milatović's budget is 1,6 million euros
Budget of the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović it was proposed at 1.676.832 euros, which is 220 thousand more than this year.
869.915 euros, about 100 thousand euros, and 295 thousand euros (40 thousand more) are planned for gross earnings.
The cost of the national team is planned at around 39,3 thousand euros (about two thousand more), and the expenses based on the work contract are 40,8 thousand euros (about three thousand more).
The budget of the Ministry of Justice will be 2,2 million less and is estimated at 4.676.508 euros.
For gross earnings in the minister's department Bojan Božović a total of around 1,4 million (50 thousand more) will be allocated, and 1.364.177 euros (200 thousand less) for the development of information and communication technologies.
A total of 22.218.151 euros is planned for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about one and a half million more than this year.
For the work of diplomatic and consular missions, it is planned to allocate around 16 million euros, of which 7,5 million for gross wages, and 534 thousand for "activities of Montenegro's presidency of the Council of Europe" (gross wages within that item amount to 224.361 euros, and the lease of buildings 139.236 euros).
For gross earnings in other sectors of the minister's department Ervin Ibrahimović, about 2,5 million euros are planned, about 600 thousand euros more than this year.
Official trips will cost, according to the budget Pedlog, a total of 316 euros, 45 more than this year.
The budget of the Ministry of European Affairs (MEP) for 2025 is planned at 2.858.079 euros, half a million more than for this year.
For the gross earnings of the minister's department Maida Gorcevic a total of 1,3 million euros (200 thousand more) is planned, and for official trips 78,5 thousand euros (20 thousand more).
3,4 million euros for NATO operations
The budget of the Ministry of Defense was increased by almost 900 thousand euros to 78.752.151 euros.
For gross earnings in the minister's department Dragan Krapović (without the Army and missions) almost 42 million euros are foreseen, six million more than this year.
About 53,7 million euros (100 thousand more) will be allocated for the Army of Montenegro, while the amount for NATO operations has increased by almost two million euros, to 3,4 million.
343.526 euros are earmarked for EU missions, and 119.299 euros for United Nations missions.
About 1,7 million euros have been earmarked for exercises and training, 7,4 million euros for equipment and modernization of the infrastructure of the Army and the Ministry, and 3,3 million euros for intelligence and security affairs.
Bonus video:
