The latest report of Brussels on progress made has denied all those who want to stop or hinder the advancement of Montenegro towards the European Union, said Prime Minister Duško Marković. During the PM hour he invited the civil sector to join them at the same table, as the RTCG portal reported.
President of the Social Democrats and Liberal Party parliamentary club Mićo Orlandić asked Marković to rate the progress of Montenegro in this year’s EC report and what the priorities are per sector in the coming period.
“The EC report show that Montenegro is the leader in the region, in terms of reforms we are undertaking in the right direction,” said Marković in the parliament. “A clear message was also sent to citizens on who is taking care of their interests and who is a partner to Brussels. In both cases it is the government, Parliament and other state institutions, in charge of the process. This detail also points to those in Montenegro who place individual interests before the interests of citizens and Montenegro itself,” said Marković.
Guidelines provided in the report are more detailed because, Marković says, Montenegro has progressed farthest in negotiations and has come significantly closer to the EU. He reiterated remaining chapters would be opened by the end of the year.
“I call on NGOs and the civil sector to avoid looking for support in other addresses beyond the legitimate domestic ones. Doors of the cabinet and government are always open to them and citizens. I invite them to sit at the same table and review cooperation options for our common goals,” concluded Marković.
He noted the government has not gone into more debt for planned expenses nor does it intend to. From 2020, he expects a budget surplus, higher salaries and pensions and a better living standard.
Chief of the Democratic Socialist Party parliamentary club Miodrag Radunović asked Marković what the effects are of the recent 500 million Eurobonds transaction on the international financial market. Marković stated government measures have upgraded the Montenegro credit rating and that the emission of Eurobonds was the most favourable yet.
“This emission is characterized by an interest almost three times higher, around 1.5 billion euro,” said Marković and added the government used it to replace existing debt with a more favourable one.
“The transaction reduced pressure on public finances in the mid-term, also enabling part of the funds in the amount of around 100 million euro to be used for commitments due in the next two years, thus reducing the need for loaning,” added Marković and reminded of a credit arrangement with SB of 200 million euro.
“During 2020 we expect a budget surplus, and with it room for further debt repayment, which will create funds for new development projects for economic growth and better standard for citizens,” concluded Marković. The state is on the right track, he added, noting this year will be better than 2017.
“We are on our way to enter budget surplus in 2020, lowering the public debt to 60 percent of the GDP. I believe salaries and pensions will be higher then and that the living standard will be significantly higher than today,” explained Marković.
Montenegro needs to be very careful in designing new border crossings, as in three to four years they will be the outer border of the European Union. Responding to a question from the minority parties parliamentary club Genci Nimanbegu on what the government plans to do about opening border crossings between Montenegro and Albania, Marković said the two nations traditionally have good friendly relations. He cited this is confirmed by the initiative to hold a joint government session sent by the Albanian PM Edi Rama during his visit to Montenegro.
Marković said the Interior Ministry sent on April 3 an initiative to Albanian colleagues to organize a meeting of relevant commission in order to conclude an inter-governmental agreement on the opening of the joint border crossing Ckla in Montenegro – Zogaj in Albania for international cargo and passenger traffic.
“The meeting is set for May 9, when all aspects of significance for the opening of this border crossing will be considered, after which the Interior Ministry and other state bodies and local administration in Bar will continue coordinating further activities,” specified Marković.
As he stated about the initiative to open the border crossing Sveti Nikola in Montenegro – Puljaj in Albania, a meeting was held in Skadar on December 15 between state bodies of both nations. The goal of the meeting was to review the feasibility of the initiative which stems from Albania and to review projects which could potentially be finances from cross-border cooperation funds of the IPA.
“This is why I expect, in the wider and long-term framework of European fund support, this project will find its place,” said Marković. Speaking on the construction of the joint border crossing Zatrijebačka Cijevna-Grabom, to be realized within the IPA program, Marković said its goal is the administrative connection of two nations on the Podgorica-Gusinje road, which partially crosses Albania.
“The opening of this crossing would require the reconstruction of the section from Dinoša to the future crossing,” he added. According to Marković, the Transportation Ministry is reviewing the possibility to use funds from the capital budget for road infrastructure to reconstruct the road section of the Zatrijebačka Cijevna – Dinoša crossing. The amount in question is around 15 million euro.
Commenting on the initiative to broaden the crossing Sukobin – Murićani, he stated the entire complex of this crossing is on Albanian territory, and that the dynamics of its reconstruction dominantly depends on securing funds from Albania.
Marković commented on the rating by Nimanbegu on the need for better throughput and mobility at border crossings for both cargo and passengers by stating this issue is not resolved by opening new border crossings. He cited border crossings have more than an economic role, but also a stability and security function.
“Montenegro will in three to four years be the outer border of the EU and we must be very careful in designing new border crossings, in order to be capable to respond to security issues of a European border,” concluded Marković.
Translated from Vijesti Online, click here for the original.
