Montenegro PM Sets Sights on Growth in 2015

At this year's public cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said he expected economic growth of about 2 per cent in 2015, which is lower than was planned but higher compared to the region, the eurozone and the EU in general.

He said the economy would remain the focus of the government. "New jobs, wages and pensions, personal and social standards in the country, and its future, all depend on economic growth, new investment, improvements to infrastructure, generating exports and on other economic parameters," the Prime Minister said.

In response to questions, Djukanovic criticized the culture of some in the public administration, saying that if the public servants did not want to work hard, they should stay at home and not obstract those who come to work.

"A large number of public sector employees come to work only to bother people," Djukanovic remarked.

Referring to the issue of whether membership of NATO should be decided in a referendum or by consensus in parliament, Djukanovic said it was up to the assembly to see whether it would be best to organise a referendum.  

He said Montenegro had deserved an invitation to join NATO at the recent alliance summit in Wales in the UK in September, and it had done its homework but "that was not enough. 

"It would be an impermissible mistake to miss a second chance for membership in 2015. It is not important only for Montenegro, it is essential for the future of the Western Balkans," he declared.