10 June 2019 - According to the recent statement of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro published by local News Agency TVCG, the individuals who conduct illegal use of drones - uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) will face steep fines.

While they originated mostly in military applications, the use of drones is rapidly expanding to commercial, scientific, recreational, agricultural, and other applications, such as policing, peacekeeping, and surveillance, product deliveries, aerial photography, smuggling, and drone racing. Civilian UAVs now vastly outnumber military UAVs, with estimates of over a million sold by 2015.

Although 266 drone operators have been registered in Montenegro, the number of unmanned aerial vehicles in use is much higher. To introduce as many operators as possible into regulatory frameworks, the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro has launched an educational campaign on ways to safely manage drones. The representatives of the Agency highlighted that the cases of illegal use of drones will be punished.

"The use of drones is experiencing real expansion, not only for aerial recording, but they also prove to be very useful in controlling infrastructure, forests, agricultural goods, road traffic and the like. However, it is important that all those who operate the drones comply with certain rules, in order to avoid unwanted events, such as an airplane crash or dropping the drone to the ground, which could endanger the lives of people and property, "the representatives of Civil Aviation Agency explained.

As they pointed out, in order to prevent the illegal use of drones, the Agency signed an agreement with the Police Directorate.

"This agreement creates the conditions for more effective control of the use of drones by conducting joint activities,” states the report from the Agency. As they emphasize, it is of great importance to emphasize once again the basic regulatory requirements that are placed before drone operators:

1. All operators whose drones have a mass of more than half a kilogram with a range of over 15 meters and height over 10 meters, should be registered with the Agency;
2. The registration of the drones is free of charge;
3. The approval of the Agency for carrying out an operation using drones is only necessary when it comes to heavyweight drones and if they fly closer to urban areas or gatherings of people;
4. It is forbidden to operate a drone at night;
5. It is forbidden to operate a drone near the airport;
6. It is forbidden to throw objects to the ground during the flight.

Additional rules include the fact that "the drone must be within the field of vision of the operator and within 500 meters of the horizontal distance and up to 150 meters above ground or water. Also, the drone must be at a distance more than 150 meters from people’s gathering of and more than 30 meters from people, animals, facilities, vehicles, vessels, other aircraft, roads, railways, transmission lines and similar objects. In the event of illegal use of drones, there is the possibility of fines and court proceedings for violating public order and peace, "the Agency said.

Read more about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

09 June 2019 - Minister of Defence Predrag Bošković said in public announcement for the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro, when referring to the novelties envisaged by the Draft Law Amending the Law on Defence, that the Montenegrin citizens who are reservists within Armed Forces of Montenegro will be able to be engaged in peace, unlike the existing law, according to which they can only be engaged in war or state of emergency.

"This novelty contributes to the establishment of the reserve force of the Armed Forces of Montenegro and the engagement of reservists in peace, when the needs of the service are required, in case of reaction to fires, floods and the like, without declaring war or state of emergency," the Defence Minister told the press.

He added that the draft law, aiming to harmonise the current Law with the new missions and tasks of the Armed Force of Montenegro, established by the Draft Defence Strategy of Montenegro, which was submitted to the Parliament for adoption, stipulates that the Defence and Security Council issues a decision on the use of military units in carrying out tasks related to supporting for natural and man-made disasters and other disasters, as well as the contribution to interior security in peace within the army's mission to support other institutions.

He added that the Defence and Security Council will also have the authority to propose to the Parliament to send a request to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the activation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

"This proposal is decided by the Parliament, as well as the entry of members of the armed force of NATO member states in the territory of Montenegro to provide assistance in defence. Based on this decision of the Parliament, the President of Montenegro sends a request to NATO for the activation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty," the Minister of Defence explained.

He said that the Draft Law shall amend Article 38b of the law in force that stipulates that the control and protection of Montenegro's airspace for defence purposes can be carried out independently and in cooperation with members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. According to this decision, the control and protection of the airspace, inter alia, includes the use of military aircraft and anti-aircraft assets of NATO members.

"This amendment provides for that, on the proposal of the Minister of Defence, the President of Montenegro reaches a decision on the use of military aircraft and anti-aircraft vehicles of members of NATO in the airspace of Montenegro against civil aircrafts used as a weapon for the execution of terrorist attacks and military aircrafts representing a threat to the security of Montenegro," the Minister said.

He pointed out that the Draft Law regulates the field of military air traffic for the first time, in such a way that the operations of military air traffic will be carried out in the Ministry, while the manner of carrying out these tasks will be more closely prescribed by the by-laws of the Ministry of Defence.

Part of the amendments are related to codification too.

"In the codification process, the Ministry of Defence will assign North American Code (NCAGE) codes to subjects of codification and stock numbers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NSN) to mobile matters. Based on the assigned NCAGE codes, legal entities and other entities registered for carrying out certain activities will be introduced into the NATO database, which is one of the conditions for their operations with NATO members," Minister Bošković noted.

He added that in the process of quality assurance, the Ministry of Defence will check the fulfillment of standards and/or technical requirements for products and services procured by the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, or some NATO member in Montenegro, and will issue certificates of compliance with the standards and/or technical requirements relating to the management of the quality system of the supplier of the product or service.

Read more about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

08 June 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović, according to his Cabinet, met with Philip Reeker Acting Assistant US Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia.

An excellent level of bilateral relations was noted and the common interest was to pay special attention to the upgrading of economic relations in the next phase of cooperation, with the primary goal of improving the investment climate and creating an environment that will attract more and more US investments.

Reeker expressed high remarks on the results Montenegro achieved in its integration and reform efforts.

"What you did, and what the US strongly supported, is obvious. Today, Montenegro is a NATO member that contributes to security and a worthy ally, which is a legacy for the future and a guarantor of stability both in Montenegro and in the region" Reeker said.

Special attention was paid to the situation in the region and its European and Euro-Atlantic perspective.

President Đukanović reiterated his belief that integration of the region is the cornerstone of its stability, with the assessment that the Western Balkans, outside the context of the European and Euro-Atlantic perspective, remains an abandoned and risky region. Montenegro remains determined to continue its democratic and economic development, but is primarily strongly interested in the stability of the region and resolving remaining open issues.

"The Europeanization of the region is of great importance and we must return it to the European House," the President of Montenegro said.

The interlocutors agreed that for the future of the region and resolving the remaining issues, a strong presence of the United States, together with the European Union, is necessary.

Foreign Affairs Minister Srđan Darmanović also recently met with Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker, on his working visit to the United States.

Read more about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

08 June 2019 - Montenegro is a safe investment destination and investors from more than 100 countries have confirmed this fact. Our country is one of the most attractive investment destinations in the Mediterranean, especially in the field of tourism, real estate, energy and agriculture, said Montenegro’s ex-president, Filip Vujanović, at China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo in Ningbo.

The China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo opened Saturday in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province. As reported by XinhuaNet, the expo that put focus on "deepening opening-up and cooperation for mutual benefit," attracted over 6,700 buyers from more than 500 firms and other leading international enterprises in 22 different countries and regions.

Speaking at the Ningbo Forum, Montenegro’s ex-president, Filip Vujanović highlighted that Montenegro is one of the most attractive investment destinations in the Mediterranean. “I have great respect toward this Fair of Investment and Trade, and I see it as a strong contribution to the improvement of cooperation between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a special honor to present Montenegro as a safe and attractive investment destination with economic parameters that confirm this title ”,Mr Vujanović’s said during his speech.

As reported by Vujanović's office, he also noted that Montenegro and China have excellent relations that have been improved in recent years through the 16 + 1 Mechanism and the Road Initiative.  “Montenegro recently started the construction of a highway linking the Adriatic coast with Serbia and Central and Western Europe. This largest infrastructure project in the history of Montenegro is being realized with CRBC. The Government of Montenegro continuously works on creating the preconditions for the continuation of the construction of other sections of the highway. We encourage Chinese companies to show interest in this project through public-private partnerships, “said Vujanović, inviting the present investors to a potential partnership with Montenegro.

Pointing out to the importance of trade, he also emphasized the potentials of the Port of Bar, being a significant maritime and transport center with valuable references. Moreover, former Montenegro’s president touched on many investments in the field of tourism.

“Fully realizing the importance of investment and trade for overall development, I invite you to visit Montenegro. I am convinced that we will continue our joint efforts towards high quality cooperation, “concluded Vujanović.

The expo, scheduled to close on June 12, includes over 20 events such as the image exhibition of Eastern European countries and the European commodity exhibition.

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, the total trade volume between China and Central and Eastern European countries reached 28.55 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months this year, up 7.9 percent year on year.

Read more about politics in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

08 June 2019 - The first segment of the project Creative Visegrad - a multimedia image of V4+ cities and states was recently held in Budva, reports the local government of this city.

The Municipality of Budva, in cooperation with partners from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, is implementing the project entitled Creative Visegrad - a multimedia image of V4+ cities and states, which is approved within the framework of Visegrad + fund. As explained by the local government of the Czech city Valašské Meziříčí, this purpose of this project is to enhance the awareness about common identity among the V4 member states and Montenegro.

Thirty-two young people from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Montenegro were introduced to each other through intercultural exchange, and during the summer they will work hard on short films that will be screened at the Festival of Lights (Signal Festival) in Czech Republic in September. The workshop, which represents the first phase of the project, was held in Budva, June 3 - June 6, 2019.

The workshop was intended for young people who are interested in discovering a common cultural identity with Montenegro and Budva, together with their peers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hunagry, and who are willing to create a short film about this subject.

The main challenge of the project is a lack of knowledge in younger generation both the V4 states and the Balkan states. This region has a generous diversity of culture identity, history and tradition. The project has a goal to make a new connection among youth and with creative way of presentation, to express differences to the large audience. The main challenge is to address accessibility and cooperation among nations. One of the main ideas is sharing the cultural diversity of all participants and creating proof that their homelands are open-minded and accessible. Since this region has a diverse cultural identity, history and tradition, the project aims to creatively create a new relationship among young people and present it to the general public.

This project also focuses on sharing knowledge in specific multimedia area – creating short movies, because each project partner has a different attitude and uses different techniques to create film content. This program’s aim is sharing of know-how in context in using short videos to express the participants’ cultural identity.

Within the project Creative Visegrad, another workshop and festival will be held in the town of Valašské Meziříčí, in the Czech Republic.

The Visegrad Group, Visegrad Four, or V4 is a cultural and political alliance of four Central European states – the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia that are members of the European Union (EU) and NATO – for the purposes of advancing military, cultural, economic and energy cooperation with one another along with furthering their integration in the EU.

Festival of Lights, where the short films created within the project will be shown, is one of the most visited events in Prague that attracts thousands of tourists and locals with its fantastic light shows. Signal Festival represents a traditional event with amazing live dynamic performances of light and sound.

07 June 2019 - Montenegrin ICT sector is becoming one of the key economic branches in the context of economic recovery, besides traditional industries such as tourism, energy sector and agriculture.

Innovative Montenegrin ICT companies and start-ups are gradually getting into the international markets with a promising forecast regarding income generation and job creation.

International recognition of this sector is becoming stronger. Five leading ICT companies, Amplitudo, The Badger, Uhura solutions, Marleq and Super Hub are going to take part at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2019. The USA and the Netherlands are official organizers of the event which annually attracts over 2.000 representatives of business communities from more than 120 states. The event is taking place in the Hague, from 3 June to 5 June.

Montenegrin ICT companies are going to be presented at a special media conference, organized by the State Department. The companies will have the opportunity to present their innovation programs to the key players in the ICT industry, entrepreneurs, specialized media and potential partners.

This event is part of the regular support US Embassy in Podgorica provides to national economic reforms and endeavors to assist innovative companies with overcoming economic barriers.

The cluster-creation process is going to start soon. Clusters will consist of key innovative start-ups working on the promotion of digital services, software and hardware components and ICT solutions which are going to be competitive on the market.

Two big regional events, EDITA and PRODIGY, dedicated to digital transformation, are going to take place in September. They will bring top regional business experts, digital innovators and associations, in order to discuss cooperation in the area of digital innovation. This will be a great opportunity for Montenegrin start-ups as well.

Source: Cafe del Montenegro

07 June 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović traveled to Bratislava recently, where he participated in prestigious security forum at the invitation of the GLOBSEC team.

At the end of the first day of the GLOBSEC Security Forum in Bratislava, President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović talked with the deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajčak, the OSCE Chairman, at a working dinner hosted in his honor, as reported official website of President of Montenegro.

Lajčak thanked Đukanović for participating in this prestigious gathering, with the pleasure that Bratislava will be the hosting panel on the Western Balkans.

Among other things, Đukanović noted that this is another confirmation of the commitment of friendly Slovakia to the European perspective of Montenegro and the region as a whole, which is further expressed through its role as OSCE chairmanship in the year of the recent elections for the European Parliament and the changes that will follow at the top of the institutions in Brussels .

Interlocutors jointly expressed satisfaction with the results of the pro-European forces and emphasized that it would be extremely important both for the EU and for the region to extend the policy of enlargement to the Western Balkans on the agenda of the new European administration.

In a long conversation and friendly atmosphere, Đukanović and Lajčak exchanged views on developments in the region, with an emphasis on remaining open issues, as well as on processes in Europe and globally, with expressed willingness to promote otherwise excellent bilateral relations and cooperation.

GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, traditionally gathers a large number of participants, political leaders and prominent thinkers, and with the World Economic Forum and the Munich Security Conference is one of the most important conferences on strategic issues in Europe.

Read more about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 June 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System Milutin Simović recently hosted UN Assistant Secretary-General Mirjana Spoljarić Eger. Following the bilateral meeting, DPM Simović and Ms Spoljarić Egger spoke at the opening of the "Green Days 2019 - Achieving Green Growth Potential" conference, sponsored by UNDP, the Government of Montenegro and the Chamber of Commerce.

As Government's of Montenegro report states, DPM Simović thanked Ms Spoljarić Egger for her arrival in Montenegro and accepting to take part in the "Green Days 2019" conference. He emphasised that her participation in this conference makes it respectable and significant, both in Montenegro and beyond.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the Government of Montenegro understood the need to organise a conference on this topic, in the year when Montenegro in the negotiations with the EU opened Chapter 27 - Environment and Climate Change, and in the years in which the Government is determined to make significant advances in economic and overall social development.

Alongside this, Montenegro supports the global role of the United Nations and the values ​​of multilateralism, and shares the goals of sustainable development set out in the 2030 UN Agenda, Prime Minister Duško Marković said at the meeting with Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The Prime Minister of Montenegro and the UNDP Regional Director agreed that cooperation should give priority to the projects that are complementary to the process of Montenegro's accession to the EU and its strategic development priorities, in line with the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Read more about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 June 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović received the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Italy Elisabetta Trenta, who is on an official visit to Montenegro. Trenta recently met with Prime Minister of Montenegro, Duško Marković.

President Đukanović thanked the minister for visiting Montenegro, which represents a new and especially important impulse for further improvement of the interstate relations between Montenegro and Italy. The additional value of the visit is and, as the President said, that this visit happened at the same time when Montenegro celebrate an important jubilee of 140 years of establishing diplomatic relations marked last night in Cetinje in the building of the former Italian mission. Đukanović expressed great satisfaction with the quality of interstate cooperation and emphasized that Montenegro is very proud of the tradition of relations between Montenegro and Italy.

He emphasized the importance of Italy's support to the European and Euro-Atlantic perspectives of the region, which is particularly important in order to overcome the multi-year lag of the WB for a developed Europe.

"Aware of missed opportunities in recent history as well as internal crises in the EU, we continue to believe that the only prospect for this region is integration, and for Europe to continue unification and strengthen its global competitiveness," as noted in an official report by President of Montenegro Cabinet.

Stressing that Montenegro is a NATO and EU partner, the President paid special gratitude to Italy for supporting that country's membership of Montenegro to NATO. At the same time, he also pointed to the importance of the alliance within the Alliance, because Italy together with Greece preserves the airspace of Montenegro, as well as defense cooperation, which is reflected in support for training officers in the prestigious Italian schools.

In the context of exceptionally good bilateral relations, the President assessed that there is a significant area for improving economic cooperation on the basis of positive experience through submarine cable projects and underwater exploration of oil and gas.

"With the pleasure of opening a Confindustria branch in Montenegro, an even greater presence of Italian investors is extremely desirable, not only because of investing in Montenegro, but primarily because of the transfer of European standards, new technologies and management knowledge," Đukanović said

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Italy conveyed to President Đukanović the greetings from President Mattarella and expressed her gratitude for showing respect to her country by attending the celebration of the Day of Italy in Cetinje.

"Friendship has existed for a long time, but it is always good to have a new friendship gesture," Trenta said.

Recalling Italy's support to Montenegro for joining NATO, the minister stressed that with the great impression that country remains with Montenegro on its way to the EU. Integration is also very important because of the need for a common response to contemporary challenges, Trenta said, stressing that Italy's position towards the Balkans is very clear, both in terms of supporting the integration of Western Balkan countries, as well as meeting the criteria for membership.

The interlocutors agreed that while meeting the requirements for EU membership, it is extremely important to take advantage of the momentum and further strengthen the partnership of NATO and EU countries, which rests on the strongest basis, the Euro-Atlantic system of values. Extending cooperation in the field of defense and intensifying economic ties will undoubtedly contribute to better cooperation within NATO, but also to help to transfer knowledge in which Italy wants to participate.

Read more about politics in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 June 2019 - Montenegro is undoubtedly a hidden gem in Eastern Europe. This tiny Balkan country is nestled between Croatia’s Dalmatian coast and Albania and is a perfect place for families who enjoy exploring lesser-known destinations. The rugged coastlines, quaint villages and epic mountains are sure to capture your heart. Lindsey Bybee visited this beautiful country with her kids and is sharing 5 of her favorite family-friendly Montenegro experiences.

As explained by Bybee, parents who visit Montenegro will love the beautiful beaches, kid-friendly hiking opportunities, affordability, old-world architecture and great seafood! Their children will also be entertained by boat rides and can enjoy warm seawater, wandering through car-free streets and chatting with friendly locals.

Bybee also emphasized that, according to her preference, the best time to visit Montenegro with kids is during the spring or fall season, because this is a great way to avoid the summer beach crowds. Lindsey created a small guide where she carefully described her adventure in Montenegro with her family through five experiences that left the biggest impression on her.

1. BUDVA SEASIDE STROLL

Budva is Montenegro’s most popular destination for travelers, and for a good reason. This medieval city is not only filled with history but is also home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. Make sure to check out the picturesque walkway along the rocky coast, where you can get a great view of the walled city itself. It’s a great people-watching spot as well. During the summer, your little ones will love watching some of the local kids and teenagers diving off of the nearby rocks into the water below. The walk also leads to the more secluded Mogren Beach, which is one of Budva’s best spots to relax in the sand.

2. EXPLORE THE COBBLESTONE STREETS OF KOTOR

Surrounded by dark mountains, Kotor is one of Montenegro’s most stunning cities. The cobblestone streets, medieval architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Site status make Kotor a must-see for travelers. If your little ones love animals, they’re in for a treat too! Kotor is known for its resident cats that can be found all over the city. Children will love seeing their furry friends around every corner. There are even shops where the proceeds from souvenir purchases will go to feed and care for the local cats.

3. RELAX BY THE WATER NEAR SVETI STEFAN

When creating your Montenegro itinerary, plan to spend a day near the magical little island of Sveti Stefan. The island itself is home to a luxury resort and is only accessible to hotel guests (though, you can make a restaurant reservation on the island to get there as well), but the views of the island from a distance are stunning too. The nearby beaches are pristine, and not crowded at all. Kids will enjoy sitting in the water and searching through the pebbles for pretty rocks and shells.

4. TASTE THE LOCAL EATS

When in Montenegro, eat as the Montenegrins do! The whole family will love trying some of the local eats. Cevapcici, which is basically small grilled sausages, is a Balkan favorite and will be popular with the little ones. They usually come with french fries, which are always a crowd-pleaser too! If you happen to find yourself in Sveti Stefan, take your family for a meal at the restaurant Olive Tree. It’s right next to a playground and is on the water. The pleasant ambiance, great views, friendly staff, and yummy food will make it a great dining experience for kids and parents alike.

5. HIKE UP THE CITY WALLS

Want to check out some beautiful views and get in a little exercise? A hike up the city walls is a can’t-miss when visiting Kotor. While not too strenuous, it is worth wearing a good pair of walking shoes, as there are many steps and a lot of loose rocks along the way. The views from the top make it worth the effort!

Read more about travelling through Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.