We have to crackdown on grey economy, which not only causes serious harm to economy, but also undermines the institutions in general. We are fully aware of that danger and its scope. We are dealing with the issue on a daily basis, said PM Dusko Markovic, answering questions during today’s Prime Minister’s Hour in Parliament.
Representative of the caucus of Liberal Party and Social Democrats, Andrija Popovic, asked about grey economy, ie illegal labour and trade.
Markovic explained that the states that are much more developed than Montenegro faced the issue, pointing out that there is currently no official analysis of the grey economy data in our country.
“However, there is a possibility of measuring tax capacity and tax gap for certain tax forms and total revenues. In addition, there is our strong commitment to monitor and suppress this unpleasant phenomenon,” he stressed.
The prime minister added that therefore the interpretation that the loss on this basis, only in the tourism sector, is €300m-€400m a year was not an accurate.
The representative of the Bosniak Party, Ervin Ibrahimovic, asked what the government was doing to valorise natural potentials of Plav and Gusinje.
“The government is firmly oriented towards the development of the northern region. As Arsenal in Tivat has become Porto Montenegro and as Kumbor is becoming Portonovi, thus we will develop the winter tourism centres in the north. Those centres will generate new jobs and provide better quality of life, so that people will not leave the north, but they will come to the north via this new highway,” Markovic emphasised.
He called to mind that projects of construction and reconstruction of the necessary infrastructure are being continuously implemented through the capital budget.
DPS MP Branimir Gvozdenovic asked Markovic what the government expected from the implementation of EU infrastructure projects and whether the state can count on the financial support of the Union.
Markovic pointed out that the EU clearly showed its focus on our region, adding that support for important infrastructure projects was expected during Bulgaria’s presidency over the Union.
“Yes, I expect that financial support to our infrastructure projects will be certain,” Markovic said, pointing out that such projects are of the interest of the entire region.
When it comes to the highway, Markovic points out that our implementation is not only encouraged by the EU, but also by the International Monetary Fund, which used to criticise the project, as well as the World Bank.
Members of Democratic Front earlier announced that they would not participate in the Parliament’s work while one of their leaders, Milan Knezevic, was in prison.
