(Podgorica, december 24. 2012) – Budget proposal of Montenegro for 2014 contains many irregularities and illegalities and for that reason MANS today sent a set of amendments to the Parliament. Last week MANS made deputies and the public of Montenegro familiar with the fact that the budget proposal for next year presents the case that in 2014 we expect elections in most municipalities, and that the specific items are defined in a way that would allow misuse of public funds for political purpose, similar to those that we had in the affair “Recording“.We also pointed on the fact that illegal planning of some items is continued in the budget, despite the clear warnings of the State Audit Institution that practices like that must stop. MANS also showed that the budget proposal for the following year as well suggests new state aid for eternal losers such as KAP, Montenegroairlines, and RTCG, and beside officially declared saving measures, it continues with attitude of wasteful spending of Montenegro taxpayers’ money.
Therefore MANS submitted to the Parliament nine amendments to the text of Budget and urged members to support them in order together to improve the Budget of 2014.
In submitted amendments, MANS requested that from the budget proposal is deleted the obligation of the Government to issue new guarantees to Montenegrin Transmitted System in the amount of 20 million euros for the construction of the power cable from Tivat to Pljevlja for the fact that the project itself is controversial, both in terms of environment protection, and its justification in terms of public interest. This amendment includes and guarantees for the additional 5 million euros to Montenegrin Fund for solidarity housing development which already proved to be a bad host, because we had a situation that the guarantees to this company fell in 2010, issued by the Government for the loan of 3.8 million euros, so for that reason it is economically unjustifiable to give guarantees to someone who already proved that it can not repay the loan.
With a special amendment MANS asked that from the budget is deleted and the obligation to take debts of Montenegroairlines of 3.7 million euros, and also debts for taxes of RTCG in the amount of the additional 2.4 million euros because it is the case of the state aid whose offer is inconsistent with the Stabilization and Association Agreement signed by Montenegro with the EU.
When it comes to new borrowing in 2014 planned at the level of 240 million euros, as well new borrowing for rescheduling of existing debts and loans, MANS with specific amendment requested that this is only possible to do with the prior consent of the Parliament which is not an option suggested with the current version of the budget proposal.
Despite the findings of the State Audit Institution that the unlawful payments of other fees for membership in working groups whose work can be classified under the regular duties of civil officials and authorities, this item still founds its place in the budget proposal. MANS requested with a special amendment that the funds from that item are used for reducing the budget deficit.
As MANS already stated earlier that the budget for 2014 suppose to cover of Montenegrobonus for “the costs of production organization in KAP“ in the amount of 4 million euros, which represents new state aid for KAP, again contrary to the provisions of the Stabilization and Association Agreement related to state aid. With these 4 million euros the Government for the next year predicted additional 3.4 million euros to resolve the issues of redundant workers in KAP and mines Boksit, which is again new state aid to Russian owner of these companies. MANS with specific amendments requested the elimination of these items and the end of practice of unconditional support of the Russian tycoons at the expense of the citizens if Montenegro.
And after the announcement that the citizens of Montenegro will not pay for the electricity that had been stolen for KAP’s needs, in the budget for the next year the Government suggested additional 4 million euros which should be used for that purpose. MANS requested with specific amendment that budget item to be removed.
Finally, although saving measures are officially proclaimed the Budget Proposal for 2014 does not reflect that they actually are going to be applied in the following year. Therefore MANS from the budget lines for telecommunication services and fuel costs suggested diverting a total amount of 3 million euros in reducing overall budget deficit.
MANS urges deputies to give support to suggested amendments to the relevant committees, but also at the Plenum of the Parliament, and therefore contribute to bring misuse of the money of the citizens of Montenegro on the minimum level.
MANS
