In the first six months of this year, €61.2 million, or 26% of the total planned amount, was spent on the capital budget, according to the second-quarter budget execution report.
Out of this amount, €5.7 million came from loans, and €4.73 million from EU donations (IPA projects).
- Given that €36.69 million (18% of the planned amount) was spent during the same period last year, representing €24.5 million less, the execution rate for the first two quarters of this year has improved by 66% – the report states.
The Government notes that for 2024, funds totaling €240,012,958.82 have been allocated for the capital budget to implement 332 activities (projects) with a total estimated value of €2.9 billion, managed by the Directorate for Transport and the Directorate for Capital Projects.
The Ministry of Finance planned the implementation of the capital budget for both Directorates at 30% of the funds from general revenues in the first half of the year, with the remaining amount to be spent by the end of the year. This is due to the specific structure and implementation timeline of capital projects, where most invoices are due in the last quarter of the fiscal year.
Within the capital budget of the Directorate for Capital Projects, €92.3 million has been allocated for 254 projects (activities), accounting for 38% of the total capital budget for 2024.
- By the end of the second quarter, €37.26 million had been paid for projects managed by the Directorate for Capital Projects, representing 40% of the total planned amount, which is three times more than the same period last year when €17.74 million, or 13% of the total planned for 2023, was paid – the document states.
Of this amount, €30.9 million, or 33% of the total planned funds, was spent from general budget revenues, while €0.97 million was paid from loans, and €5.38 million from EU donations (IPA projects), which is €1.8 million more than last year.
The capital budget of the Directorate for Transport includes €147.7 million, with €57.47 million or 24% allocated for 77 projects, and €90.24 million or 38% allocated for the Bar-Boljare highway, section Mateševo-Andrijevica.
- In the first half of 2024, €23.96 million, or 16% of the total planned amount, was spent on projects managed by the Directorate for Transport, which is €5 million more than last year when €18.95 million was spent. Of this amount, €19.23 million was spent from general budget revenues, while €4.73 million was paid from loans, which is about €3 million more than last year – the report states.
Excluding the planned (€90.24 million) and paid (€0.79 million) funds for the highway, the execution of the capital budget of the Directorate for Transport from general budget revenues stands at €18.44 million. This represents 32% of the planned amount for other projects besides the highway, which is 6% more than last year during the same period (€17.2 million).
Regarding the largest infrastructure project, the continuation of the Bar-Boljare highway, section Mateševo-Andrijevica, Monteput is carrying out activities according to the dynamics established by the Law on the Budget of Montenegro for 2024 and the signed agreement with the Directorate for Transport and the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs.
- In accordance with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) procedures, Monteput has completed the prequalification process for the construction of the second section from Mateševo to Andrijevica. Documentation for the prequalification call for selecting professional supervision is also being prepared and will be published soon. The selection of consultants will be carried out through direct public bidding, and the prepared documentation has been sent to the EBRD for approval – it is explained.
Following the announcement of the prequalification results, calls for submission of applications will be published in the third quarter of the current year, with the selection of contractors and signing of contracts expected in the first quarter of 2025.
The Government will submit the report to the Parliament of Montenegro.
