The Ministry of Public Administration (MPA) has maximally harmonized the Proposal for Amendments to the Law on Civil Servants and State Employees with European recommendations, said the relevant Minister Maraš Dukaj, stating that all laws they are preparing are aimed at professionalizing and depoliticizing state administration.
Dukaj said this at the Parliament session, answering questions from Social Democrat MP Boris Mugoša and Democratic Party of Socialists MP Zoja Bojanić Lalović.
Bojanić Lalović asked Dukaj what he would do to ensure that Montenegro meets the requirements set by the EU regarding the Law on Civil Servants and Employees.
Dukaj said that the MPA, nor any ministry or institution, can complete any process or law on its own.
"What was the legal and professional obligation of the MPA, we demonstrated in action. We maximally harmonized that law with European recommendations, we did everything that was up to us," said Dukaj.
As he said, the MPA does everything in accordance with procedures and European practices and harmonizes every legal solution.
"We will continue to work as hard as possible in the area related to the depoliticization and professionalization of public administration, but that does not depend on us, but on everyone," said Dukaj.
When asked by Mugoša why he singled out the Government's opinion regarding the establishment of the Proposal for Amendments to the Law on Civil Servants and Public Servants, Dukaj replied that he somewhat agrees that the amendments to the law made at the Government session are challenges that still need to be thought about.
"I am certain that, before this law is adopted, we will have additional positive changes," Dukaj added.
According to him, no shadow should be cast on the good solutions contained in that law.
Dukaj recalled that some of the key innovations are the increase in the number of years of work experience required to work in the state administration, as well as the fact that for the first time the selection of the best candidate in the employment process has been defined.
"The institute of acting (act) is limited to a maximum of two six-month periods, and the possibility of permanent assignment of officials from one institution to another is also prescribed," said Dukaj.
He added that the amendments also prescribe situations in which the mandate may end before the end of the term, and it was also defined that inspectors will no longer be appointed for a five-year mandate, but will instead be on a permanent employment contract.
Dukaj said that it is also planned that not all officials whose mandates end will receive the annual compensation, but only those whose mandates have expired or in the case of reorganization.
"All these solutions, not only this law, but all the laws that the MPA is working on, are aimed at professionalizing and depoliticizing state administration," Dukaj pointed out.
He said that it was true that he had expressed an opinion on the Proposal for Amendments to the Law on Civil Servants and State Employees, adding that he respected the decisions of the majority.
Mugoša stated that the Law on Civil Servants and State Employees is very important for the EU integration process and that public administration reform is one of the key criteria.
"That is why it is very important that we pass this law properly and not do what you did when there was a change of government on August 30, 2020, when the Parliament passed anti-systemic and anti-European amendments to the Law on Civil Servants and Employees," Mugoša added.
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