Democrats’ MP Zdenka Popovic has submitted to the Montenegrin Parliament amendments to the Law on Salaries in the Public Sector aimed at expanding the list of institutions exempt from the law. In addition to the Central Bank, the proposal would exclude the Energy and Utilities Regulatory Agency, the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services, and the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services.
The amendments seek to align Montenegrin legislation with EU law and best European practice by strengthening the financial and institutional independence of regulators, which are not funded from the state budget but from fees paid by the entities they regulate. Popovic argues that the current law, in force since 2016, undermines regulators’ autonomy, leads to lower pay than in the regulated sectors, and makes it harder to retain qualified staff.
The proposal follows repeated warnings from the Energy Community and the European Commission, as well as recommendations in the European Commission’s 2024 Montenegro Progress Report. The law would enter into force upon publication and apply from 1 March 2026, without requiring additional budget funds.