Press release from the 108th Cabinet session

The Montenegrin Cabinet held its 108th session today, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić. The Cabinet adopted a Decision determining the annual quota of permits for temporary residence and work of foreigners for 2026. The Law on Foreigners stipulates that the annual number of permits for temporary residence and work of foreigners - the annual quota - is determined by the Government, in line with migration policy and the situation and trends in the labour market in Montenegro, no later than 30 November of the current year for the following year. The annual quota defines the activities in which foreigners may be employed. Within the annual quota, separate quotas are determined for employment and for seasonal employment of foreigners. The annual quota is determined upon the proposal of the state administration body competent for labour affairs, with prior opinions obtained from the Employment Agency of Montenegro, the state administration bodies competent for specific activities for which the quota is set, and the Social Council. Upon the proposal of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue, the annual quota for 2026 has been set at a total of 28,988 permits. From this number, 5,000 permits for temporary residence and work of foreigners are set aside, which the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue may additionally allocate for specific purposes, in accordance with labour market needs, upon the request of the Employment Agency of Montenegro. Of the total quota, 21,668 permits are allocated for employment and 2,320 permits for seasonal employment. Thus, 23,988 permits have been allocated from the total determined number. The largest number of permits has been allocated to the following sectors: accommodation and food services - 6,150 permits; construction - 6,000 permits; other service activities - 5,268 permits; wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles - 1,453 permits; professional, scientific, innovation and technical activities - 1,200 permits; information and communication - 878 permits; manufacturing industry - 527 permits.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Value Added Tax. Bearing in mind that the implementation of the Integrated Revenue Management System (IRMS) is underway in the Tax Administration - of which the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) is an integral part - and that its application will begin on 1 January 2026, this law proposes the introduction of a new VAT number necessary for the functioning of VIES and the exchange of information in the field of VAT. In addition, these provisions align national legislation with the provisions of Directive 2006/112, which is an obligation within the activities related to the closing of negotiating Chapter 16 (Taxation).

The Cabinet adopted the Decree on the detailed manner of destruction of goods, sale of goods and transfer of goods to the state. In the context of the EU accession process, Montenegro has significantly improved its legal and institutional framework, while EU Member States have developed modern mechanisms for transparent and digital management of goods under customs supervision (e.g. public electronic auctions, central registers, standardised forms). As the existing Decree does not recognise these elements, it has become legally and technically outdated and no longer meets the requirements of modern customs operations. Following the adoption of the new Customs Law on 30 July 2022, the need arose to adopt a new regulation that will more precisely prescribe the conditions for the disposal of customs goods, including the sale, transfer and destruction of goods. The adoption of this regulation is an obligation envisaged by the Government Work Programme for 2025. This Decree establishes a modern, transparent and unified system for the disposal of goods under customs supervision, confiscated goods, transferred goods or goods that have become state property. The general objective is to enable efficient, responsible and transparent management of customs goods through clearly defined procedures, standardised forms and the establishment of a central register, while simultaneously reducing administrative costs and risks. The Decree introduces new, modernised procedures that enable:

• a unified approach by all customs offices through standardisation of forms and procedural steps;
• digitalisation of key processes (central electronic register, possibility of conducting electronic public auctions);
• increased transparency and competitiveness in sales procedures;
• reduced storage time;
• more precise definition of criteria and competences for free-of-charge transfer and destruction of goods;
• the possibility of direct sale in special and urgent cases, with clear conditions and control mechanisms.

This Decree completes the customs regulatory framework by enabling national customs rules and procedures to be aligned with European ones in terms of transparency, efficiency and digital transformation in the disposal of goods under customs supervision. Its application creates preconditions for gradual digitalisation of procedures and improved fiscal control, as well as for establishing a central database on the quantities, types and status of goods, thereby ensuring more rational planning and reporting by the Customs Administration.

The Draft Law on Regional Development was adopted. The draft law improves the positioning of regional development policy and strengthens the institutional framework for its planning and implementation. It also changes the holder of the policy in line with the new organisation of the Government and strengthens the role of the newly established ministry competent for regional development. The role of the Partnership Council for Regional Development is enhanced, particularly in terms of strengthening cooperation between local self-governments and national authorities. The adoption of a Programme for Encouraging Underdeveloped Local Self-Government Units (LSGUs) is prescribed as a form of concrete financial support. The categories for classifying local self-governments according to their level of development are updated, with the key change being an increase in the threshold for underdeveloped LSGUs - from up to 75% to up to 85%. The law also provides for clearer definition of the obligations of local self-governments regarding the adoption of annual Action Plans for the Strategic Development Plan and reports on their implementation. A higher level of importance is assigned to inter-municipal cooperation, with the aim of supporting as many initiatives for such cooperation as possible. This legal framework enables more effective implementation of policy activities, faster achievement of results, and more adequate support to the development of particularly underdeveloped local self-governments.

The Cabinet adopted the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Contracts for Carriage of Passengers by Road. The objective of this draft law is to improve passenger rights in road transport, with a particular focus on persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility.

The draft law also creates a safer legal framework in cases of damage caused by the death of a passenger, bodily injury or impairment of a passenger's health in road transport. It further regulates compensation for damage to wheelchairs, mobility aids and other movement equipment, training of employees in dealing with persons with disabilities, passenger rights in regular and occasional transport, provision of information in cases of cancellation or delay of transport, and withdrawal from the contract due to cancellation or delay in the commencement of transport.

Additionally, it prescribes the obligations of carriers in the event of interruption of travel, the amount of compensation for damage caused by the death of a passenger, bodily injury or health impairment, the liability of the carrier, travel agency or entity managing a bus station when obligations are transferred to other persons, passengers' rights to submit complaints in cases of delay or cancellation, and compensation for loss or damage to luggage. In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, persons with disabilities or reduced mobility should have the same opportunities as other citizens regarding freedom of movement, freedom of choice and non-discrimination, i.e. equal rights and opportunities to use public bus transport services. This is necessary to create legal preconditions for the introduction of all standards ensuring full enjoyment of human rights and the prevention or elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities or reduced mobility must not be denied the right to transport, except for reasons justified in terms of simplicity and safety when boarding, disembarking or travelling, related to the construction of the bus or bus station. Persons with disabilities must have the right to assistance at bus stations, and in the interest of social inclusion, such assistance should be free of charge.