15 November 2018 - At its recent session, the Montenegrin Cabinet made a decision that around 120 kilometers of roads throughout Montenegro will undergo reconstruction during the next two years.

The agreement between Montenegro and the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the financing of the project "Roads reconstruction programme" includes the reconstruction of the following roads: M-8 Pljevlja - Mihajlovica (10 km); M-2.1, Bar Bridge - Dobrakovo - Bijelo Polje (14.6 km); M-2 Berane - Tunnel Lokve - Rožaje (30.9 km); M-2 Lepenac - Ribarevine - Poda - Berane (39,8 km) and M-2 Kamenovo - Petrovac - Bar (23,3 km).

Director of the Transport Directorate Savo Parača told the press following the Cabinet session that the 2015 roads programme includes 24 sections and the reconstruction of 216.3 km of main roads, while the works on the sections financed from the budget are mainly completed and that the total length of the main roads that will be reconstructed with funds from this loan is 125 km.

"By 2020, Montenegro will have 216 km of modern roads," he concluded.

Similarly, in the last five years, a total of 197,84 million EUR was invested in maintenance, reconstruction and construction of regional and trunk roads in Montenegro, as noted by the representatives of the Ministry of Transport of Montenegro recently. They also added that this had an impact on more comfortable, economical, safer and high-quality transport and, therefore, resulted in better accessibility of Montenegro as a tourism destination.

Read more about the investments in the past five years here.

15 November 2018 - The fourth Pet and Vet Fair, a traditional animal care event, will be held on November 17 and 18, in the central atrium of the Shopping Mall Delta City in Podgorica.

The organizer of the fair is Memento Marketing and Communications Agency from Podgorica, while the main goal is to promote the offer of equipment, food, cosmetics, and care products for pets all in one place. The agency will, once again, bring together sellers and distributors of food and other pet supplies, as well as non-governmental organizations and institutions dealing with animal protection. The participants of the fair will have the opportunity to present their offer in detail at the booths, and to introduce the citizens with their services in the best way. The visitors will be able to get acquainted with the offer but also participate in the accompanying program activities.

The first edition of this fair was held in November 2015, also in Podgorica (Shopping Mall Delta City). Even then, the fair had an educational character, so the visitors had the opportunity to exchange experiences with pet owners, consult with experts, and participate in interesting accompanying contents.

Visitors of this year's fair will have the opportunity to take advantage of special trade discounts when purchasing equipment, cosmetics and food for their pets. A special focus will be placed on pet care education, with detailed instructions from professionals who will give advice on a pet’s needs, especially to parents and children.

The organisers also want to give future pet owners the possibility to hear the present owner's experiences and to learn more about the adoption of dogs and cats and about the care of these pets.

During the Pet & Vet Fair 2018, you can expect:

-a rich offer of pet equipment and pet food

-a possibility to consult with pet professionals

-free product samples

-promotion of responsible ownership

-a possibility to apply for puppies’ and kittens’ adoption

-finals of the contest "Meet my pet".

Join the event and treat your pet with the best products!

15 November 2018 - The first Consular Forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro is being held on November 15 and 16 in Podgorica.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Srđan Darmanović, who opened the Forum, expressed his satisfaction that Montenegro is the host of the first Forum that brought together representatives of seventeen countries, with the aim of exchanging experiences and views on the current situation in the area of visa policy, the challenges of migratory movements and consular services in the era of globalization, and pointed to the importance of a continuous strengthening cooperation in these areas.

"Thanks to the joint efforts over the past few years, we have made significant progress towards better cohesion in a number of areas, especially in culture, justice, internal affairs, education and science. With this same goal, we have organized the Forum, convinced that the result of this two-day work will contribute to the even better relations of the participating countries," said Darmanović.

Referring to the achievements of Montenegro in terms of foreign policy priorities, he stressed that our European and Euro-Atlantic partnerships guarantee the security of the country and the security of business and investment environment and that consular activities have an important role to play in that. The Minister concluded that Montenegro successfully fulfills all the obligations arising from the visa liberalization, and thanks to such a policy of the Government, Montenegrin citizens can travel today without visas in 100 countries of the world, while citizens from 104 countries can, without visas, stay in Montenegro.

In the context of the Global Pact on Migration and the upcoming meeting in Marrakech and in connection with one of the topics of the Forum, Minister Darmanović also pointed to the need for cooperation and joint action in relations to the more and more frequent migration movements. In this regard, he stressed that Montenegro seeks to maintain regular communication with the countries of the region and other partners, continuously developing mechanisms and strengthening the capacities in order to provide an adequate response to all challenges, with full respect for international standards.

The first Consular Forum in Montenegro lasts for two days, and the list of representatives includes the ministries of foreign affairs of Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Turkey.

November 15, 2018 - After developing a credible fiscal strategy, the Montenegrin government should adhere to the set goals, even if it slows down the economic growth, in order to restore fiscal balance and reduce public debt, it was suggested by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The EBRD in its new Transition Report (2018-2019) states that fiscal stabilization is crucial for the economic growth.

"The sustainability of public finances is a significant concern and among the greatest risks facing the country. In the fight against ever-increasing fiscal pressures, a new Fiscal Strategy was adopted in June 2017, which contained a series of measures, including VAT and excise tax, official’s salary cuts, improvement of tax collection and the abolition of maternity allowances with three or more children, adopted by the Parliament a year earlier. The main goal of the Strategy is to achieve the primary budget surplus from 2019 and the overall budget surplus from 2020. This should set the public debt to a declining path, which has rapidly increased to more than 70 percent of GDP in the recent years," the report said.

It is added that renewable energy projects should be further developed because Montenegro has significant potential in this area and further development would help the transition towards the green economy.

"Further improvements are needed in the management. The focus in the coming years should be the development of the Government's e-governance program and strengthening the framework for competitiveness policy," it was stated from the EBRD.

In the previous Transition Report, for 2017-2018, the EBRD released a new approach to measuring transitional progress. According to EBRD, a sustainable market economy must be: 1) competitive, 2) well-managed, 3) "green", 4) inclusive, 5) external shock resistant and 6) integrated. At the same time, the bank has developed a methodology according to which each of the countries in transition, on a scale of 1 to 10, is being evaluated in relation to the six listed qualities. Montenegro got the worst rating for competitiveness, 5.2, the green economy 5.3 and good management 5.9. Montenegro has received slightly better grades for the integrated economy, 6.4, for resistance to external shocks 6.3 and for inclusive economy 6.1.

All countries in the region have poor competitiveness scores, and the main reasons that negatively affect the competitiveness of the countries in the region are inadequate business environment, strong unfair competition coming from the gray economy and limited and often expensive approach to financing (especially for small and medium-sized enterprises).

After several years of relatively weak economic results, growth in the EBRD region in 2017 was on average 3.8 percent, which is the second consecutive year of faster growth.

"The economies in which the EBRD operates have very different rates of population and labor growth, which means that the relationship between productivity growth, wage growth per capita and main economic growth - three concepts that are often used as synonyms - are actually more complex and more specific per the country itself, "the report said.

The EBRD stresses that Montenegro has made progress towards eventual membership in the EU.

Text by Vijesti online, on November 14th, 2018, read more at Vijesti

November 14, 2018 - In the next few days, college students can apply for participation in the Professional Training Program. As previously announced, the application process will last until November 18th.

Whether the electronic application will be locked on Sunday or will be prolonged for Monday, in accordance with the Law on Administrative Procedure, it will be announced in due course by the Ministry of Education.

At the Employment Bureau, until Wednesday, November 14^th the total of 3,311 high school students without a work experience applied.

Let’s recall that employers have offered around 11,000 jobs, of which 6,900 are in the real estate sector, and slightly more than 4,000 in health, education, police, military, law offices, enforcement officers, notaries, tourist organizations, political parties, public institutions, societies with the participation of state capital, etc.

Usually, the most wanted jobs are economists and lawyers. However, through the program, on average, from 3,000 to 3,500 people with higher education are included annually. Therefore, on vocational training, in six generations, there were a total of more than 20,000 highly educated students.

Professional training of users lasts nine months and is recognized as a work experience of 12 months and as a condition for taking the appropriate professional exam with higher education. According to the analysis, conducted by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the Tax Administration, about 50 percent of beneficiaries after completing the Vocational Training Program continue their work engagement.

Text by CdM, on November 15th, 2018, read more at CdM

November 15, 2018 - President of the Chamber of Commerce Vlastimir Golubovic and Director of the Public Procurement Office Mersad Mujevic signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between these two institutions, assessing that this document represents the basis for further strengthening the quality relations between the Chamber and the Procurement office and will contribute to the realization of new joint activities.

The document states that the Public Procurement Administration and the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro have mutual interest to establish and develop mutual cooperation with the aim of ensuring the quality and efficient development of the public procurement system.

The meeting in the Chamber of Commerce was an opportunity to discuss the proposal of the new Law on Public Procurement. Golubović reminded that the new Law stipulates that the Chamber of Commerce gives an opinion on every text of the law relating to the economy.

"The Chamber's position is that this important act must conform to the needs of the economy and remove unnecessary formalism that burdens the public procurement process in order to increase its efficiency. The economy, among other things, proposes that the right of appeal is to be left only to the participants in the procedure who submitted the correct bids in order to prevent the abuse of that institute. The proposed value of the guarantee for the performance of the contract of 10% of the value of the business transaction is very high because it can reduce the creditworthiness of the bidders. Therefore, it is proposed that it remains at the same level as in the previous Law - from two to five percent," PKCG said.

Director of the Public Procurement Administration Mujević said that the Bill introduces solutions that will significantly relieve and speed up the public procurement procedure, and that numerous suggestions of businessmen have already been adopted. According to him, although the European Commission's opinion on the draft law has already arrived, there is still room for further harmonization with the economy. A new meeting of representatives of the Chamber and the Public Procurement Administration will soon be organized on this topic.

Text by CdM, on November 14th, 2018, read more at CdM

November 15, 2018: Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Forestry Directorate will participate in planting in the Herceg Novi area within the framework of the "Pne Seedling per Inhabitant" action in Montenegro. 

The events are held in the Orjen mountain area, at the Vrbanj site, starting on Friday at 11am. The Minister of Agriculture, Milosav Anđelić and his associates, representatives of the Forestry Directorate, employees of the Agency for Development and Protection of Orjen Mountain from Herceg Novi, representatives of the hunters of the Orjen Association, students of High School "Ivan Goran Kovačić ", the hiking section of the Elementary School" Milan Vuković "Herceg Novi, as well as members of the Scout Association "Orjen" Herceg Novi, are all involved. 

The Government of Montenegro, within the framework of numerous activities for the conservation and improvement of forest resources, has proposed 200,000 euros for the forestation on the entire territory of the state. In the fall, the Forestry Directorate will plant 630,000 seedlings of autochthonous tree species.

November 15, 2018 - The seismic ship "Polar Empress", which should start 3D seismic shooting of the Ulcinj submarine for the eventual oil and gas exploitation, arrived last night to Bar around 10pm.

The ship is anchored 1.5 km from Port Bar and will stay there for the next two days, confirmed the Port Authority.

Seismic Ship to Conduct Explorations until 21 December

The ship, which will be in preparations over the next few days, will be provided free traffic by the Port Bar to be able to carry out the operations. It is planned that the study will last until December 21, but if the weather conditions get worse, it may be extended. Surveys are planned for the 1.2 thousand-square-mile of sea bottom on quadrants for which the concession was awarded to the Italian-Russian consortium Eni-Novatek.

The Maritime Safety Authority has started broadcasting a warning for seafarers, which will last until the end of the 3D shooting.

Civic Protest Against Seismic Ship Activities Continues

Civil activists gathered around the SOS for Montenegro along with the sports and professional fishermen and divers and sent a new appeal to halt the testing in search of oil.

Ecologists have pointed out that such studies, which use so-called air cannons, not only cause enormous damage to marine flora and fauna, but also come into the zone of pronounced seismic risks because the tests are conducted in blocks in which 1979 was the epicenter of the devastating earthquake which has caused terrible devastation across the Montenegrin coast.

Sport fishermen Miloš Dašić from Bar, ecologist Nataša Kovačević from NGO Green Home, diver Zoran Docić from Ulcinj, professional fisherman Dragoljub Bajković and citizen activist Mirsad Kurgaš from Bar, said that the seismic tests are being carried out under many secrets, where the Montenegrin Government presents the public very little selective information, while on the other side the harm to the state and “the future of our children" by all parameters are immutable.

They also pointed out that the struggle for protecting the Adriatic from drilling also defends the constitutional definition of Montenegro as an ecological state, noting that tourism and oil industry do not go together anywhere in the world.

14 November 2018 - Washington Life Magazine, a premier lifestyle magazine and media outlet in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, has recently posted an article about the “Dalmatian Dream” - a luxurious travel through Croatia and Montenegro. “It’s not hard to see why two small neighboring states on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea have become Europe’s hottest summer destinations. With over 1,200 islands, sky blue water, ancient walled cities, a rich cultural history that includes numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, high quality local food, snow-capped peaks and pristine lakes, Croatia and Montenegro offer unsurpassed holiday experiences at generally reasonable prices," the writer Kevin Chaffee explains. He suggested to his readers to experience luxurious holidays in Montenegro, exploring the country’s nature and cultural heritage.

“Ferry transportation down the Dalmatian coast stops at Dubrovnik, which means renting a car (or hiring a car and driver) from Dubrovnik is the best option to explore the charms of neighboring Montenegro, now one of Europe’s hottest destinations. The journey can take two or more hours, much of it spent waiting in line to pass through both countries’ immigration controls, so be sure to allow plenty of time if you have a flight to catch on either side of the border at Dubrovnik or the Montenegrin international airports at Tivat or Podgorika. Well-heeled travelers also have the option of private helicopter service.

Porto Montenegro in the town of Tivat on the shore of the nearby UNESCO-protected Boka Bay, is a city unto itself offering every amenity international jet-setters could desire. Developed over the past dozen years and now owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, it has become “the new Monaco” with the world’s largest super yachts filling up every spot (up to 800 feet) in the 450-berth harbor in peak summer season. The adjacent “nautical village” teems with high-end bars and boutiques catering to the tastes of an international clientele for whom luxury is an absolute necessity.

The high-end Regent Porto Montenegro, loosely designed to reflect a refined Venetian Renaissance theme, offers highly personalized service and luxurious accommodations in its 87 expansive rooms and 62 suites and apartments, most with balconies overlooking the water. The stunning 10,000-square-foot pool complex encompasses a luxurious spa and hammam, three swimming pools and a gym. Guests also have access via private shuttle to a separate pool/nightclub facility with a Saint-Tropez vibe as well as a secluded private beach. A meal at the Mediterranean-inspired Murano Restaurant and a drink at the cozy Library Bar are recommended as well as a visit to the outstanding Gourmet Corner, which specializes in artisanal cakes and pastries. From $325. regenthotels.com.

After ogling the yachts, check out the marina’s pricey shops (don’t miss the amazing pharmacy) and watch teenage fashion victims parade about in $700 Dolce & Gabbana T-shirts and other designer duds as they amble to and from daddy’s boat. If you are in a more serious-minded mood, the nearby Naval Heritage Center maritime museum and submarine are worth a look.

You’ll also want to devote a day or more to explore the towns on Boka Bay, Europe’s southernmost fjord. The best way to accomplish this is via private motorboat with a captain/guide who can be hired through the Regent’s concierge (embarkation is immediately adjacent to the hotel). Along the way, Herceg Novi displays a fine combination of romantic, Byzantine and oriental architectural styles while Risan is known for the remnants of classical culture found there, dominated by the remains of a Roman patrician’s villa with beautiful mosaic floors. Kotor, a UNESCO-protected site, is the top attraction, an old Venetian city and cultural center that has withstood numerous invasions over the last thousand or so years and now attracts a lively crowd in summer that throngs its picturesque churches, museums and restaurants. It’s easy to experience daily life while meandering about the narrow lanes and small squares because it has not been totally overwhelmed by tourists except when cruise ship passengers disembark for a few hours of look & see. Finally there is Perast, another UNESCO Heritage-protected town where no cars are allowed, making it rather pleasant to explore its palaces and churches, some in ruins, set amid small hotels and family homes.

Your captain will surely disembark you at Our Lady of the Rocks (Croatian: Gospa od Škrpjela) off the coast of Perast, an artificial islet created by a sinking derelict and pirated ships loaded with rocks. The Roman Catholic Church of the same name was constructed by local seamen who kept an ancient oath after finding an icon of the Madonna and Child on the rock in the sea in 1452. The church, which was renovated in 1722, contains 68 works by Tripo Kokolja, a famous 17th-century Baroque painter from Perast.

At the foot of Porto Montenegro’s yacht-infested Jetty 1, One Restaurant’s spacious terrace beckons with “the most expensive view in the country.” Although the modern Adriatic menu featuring local ingredients competes with international favorites unavailable elsewhere, people watching will always be the main course here. The extensive wine list features many rosé labels as well as high-end champagnes. The Clubhouse, located a bit aft in the harbor, is a low-key nightspot that attracts an eclectic, younger crowd. Owned by a pair of Australian “best mates,” this casual watering hole is famed for oddly named drinks (“Boulevardier,” “Pink Pussy”), DJs and live music as well as great eavesdropping opportunities when off-duly crew from the super yachts dish about the owners’ various peculiarities and peccadilloes. It’s also the best place in town to watch major televised sports events like the World Cup.

It is best to rent a car to further explore Montenegro. Begin by driving from Tivat further down the coast to Budva, a summer party paradise boasting the best beaches in the country, ranging from the secluded and quiet to those with bustling party scenes and thunderous dance music that lasts until sunset (when scenesters continue their revelries back in the historic old town). Founded by the Greeks in the fourth century B.C. and fortified in the Middle Ages, it is now the center of the “Budva Riviera,” which runs 22 miles from Trsteno to Buljarica, and is dotted with sheltered coves and miles of sand and pebble beaches. Those with deep pockets but no super yacht can be spotted at Montenegro’s most expensive and exclusive hotel, the Aman Sveti Stefan, a complex of 15th-century stone buildings more like a medieval village than a hotel, housing 50 palatial suites and cottages with inspiring views of the coast. From $750. aman.com.

Head north to Cetinje, an odd combination of former capital city and quaint village that is the nation’s cultural heart. Get a 10-euro ticket to gain entry to six different museums, the most interesting and important of which is the King Nikola Museum Palace. The home of the ruling Petrovi-Njegoš dynasty until they fled in 1918, its somewhat musty rooms contain ornate furniture, Chinese vases, imposing portraits, taxidermied animals and a beautiful library that is closed to the public but can sometimes be accessed via a hired guide. Also visit Cetinje Monastery dating to 1786 and the History Museum, grandly housed in the city’s former parliament, that follows a timeline from prehistoric times to the mid-1950s.

Meander further northward enjoying the dramatic views through the mountainous region where the country’s vast national parks and pristine lakes are located. Check in at the Bianca Resort & Spa, a ski lodge in the town of Kolasin that is quiet, clean and features a huge pool, a whirlpool and an excellent sauna. Rooms are smallish and have no air conditioning or screens on the windows (although that is generally not a problem at this altitude). The cafeteria-style food is bland at best with the staff grumbling if they have to prepare anything off the limited à la carte menu — “communist-era hospitality” at its best! From $75, kolasin1450,com. (TIP: Ask for directions to a nearby restaurant run by the Damjanovica family that features hearty local specialties including local trout and kacamak, a tasty cheese and potato staple.)

From Kolasin it’s a two-hour drive to Biogradska Gora, the second oldest (1878) national park in the world, boasting one of the largest primeval forests in Europe. You’ll want to spend most of the day exploring its verdant landscapes, six pristine glacial lakes and 26 different habitats burgeoning with diverse flora, fauna and fish (including the grayling, which has disappeared from the rest of Europe). Historic heritage sites include sacral monuments and traditional architecture structures. Contact the The Explorer Tourist Agency explorer.co.me for top notch guided tours and be sure to ask about a visit to Eku Katun Vranjak, about 5,000 feet above sea level at the end of a bumpy, winding dirt road. The remote, family-run nomadic settlement of ten wooden chalets (some are available for overnight stays) sits amid breathtaking peaks and rolling pastures with herds of goats and cows feeding on grass as you enjoy a hearty lunch there. Reserve overnight stays and lunch-only visits at jelka.me.

Enjoy the drive south back to Tivat past rolling farmlands, creeks and the impressive Moraca Canyon to Podgorica (pronounced Pod-go-reet-sa), Montenegro’s “pocket-sized” capital known as “Titograd” in communist times. Stroll along the main street, the Slobode, as well as the side lanes to explore the Old Town (Stara Varos) and its shops, cafes and restaurants including Pod Volat for delicious pizzas and regional dishes that are ridiculously cheap.

Lake Skadar is not on the normal tourist route because it is neither on the coast nor anywhere near to the sprawling national parks. It is however a great place to stop if you enjoy the great outdoors and want to hike, bicycle, swim at freshwater beaches or explore nature preserves. Be sure to visit the Serbian Orthodox Vranjina Monastery, one of the country’s oldest religious sites located on the south-east part of Vranjina island and accessible by an access road from the shore.”

Read more information about the article and the luxurious travel through Montenegro and Croatia here.

14 November 2018 - On Wednesday, November 14, the Sports Minister of Montenegro, Nikola Janović, accompanied by the General Manager of Telenor Montenegro, Sandra Steiner, and the General Secretary of the High School Students Union, Jovan Bojović, presented the project "Free Internet Access for Youth Clubs and Youth Centres", which provides free internet access in youth clubs and centres throughout Montenegro.

The Ministry of Sports of Montenegro is actively working on creating new opportunities for young people in order to improve their information access and realization of activities that will enable them to make quality leisure time said Janović. "We consider that youth clubs and centres are one of the key infrastructural mechanisms for improving the participation of young people in the political, social, cultural and economic spheres of society, development of life skills and strengthening of their social influence," the Minister concluded.

In the past period, the Sports Ministry has financially supported the opening of youth clubs in Tivat, Budva, Pljevlja, Berane, Mojkovac, Ulcinj, Cetinje, Tuzi, as well as three youth clubs and youth centre in Podgorica, with the aim of improving their functioning. Within the “Free Internet Access for Youth Clubs and Youth Centres" Project, the Ministry of Sports and the Union of High School Students will, with financial support by Telenor Foundation, provide free internet access to all young people visiting the aforementioned premises.

"Young people in Montenegro use the Internet access on a daily basis for communication purposes, access to social networks and search for information. By providing them with free access to the Internet, we want to encourage them to use technology to learn and improve their knowledge and skills, which will be increasingly needed in the digital age," aid Sandra Steiner, General Manager of Telenor Montenegro.

Jovan Bojović, secretary general of the Union of High School Students, expressed satisfaction that his organization has continuous cooperation with the Ministry of Sports and has now achieved cooperation with the Telenor Foundation as well. He pointed out that besides the fact that this project will provide free internet for youth clubs and centres, a number of educational workshops on internet literacy of young people will be realized.

In order to realize the project, a contract was signed between the Telenor Foundation and the Union of High School Students, in partnership with the Ministry of Sports.

By providing free internet access to young people in the youth clubs and centres, the Ministry will enable young people in Montenegro to have easier access to the information they can use in their everyday life, education, the transition period from school to job finding, employment. The Sports Ministry also wants to encourage young people to visit youth centres and participate in the programs that these clubs have to offer.