Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – According to European Alliance representative Mirko Stanic, the latest increase in fuel prices proves that the Government is not willing to seriously address issues such as citizens’ living standards, support for the business sector, and curbing soaring inflation.

“Although they had announced a ‘responsible approach toward citizens,’ citizens will face higher fuel prices. Instead of reducing excise duties at a time of rising market prices, the authorities in Montenegro are once again using every opportunity to extract money from citizens and businesses, without any development vision, new projects, or strengthening of the domestic economy,” Stanic said in a press release.

He noted that it is clear that due to the higher base for value-added tax (VAT), the Government is now collecting significantly more revenue on that basis alone than before the crisis, as the proposal for a lower rate prepared by the European Alliance parliamentary group has not been adopted. 

“This means the Government will likely be one of the few that profits from its own citizens during a crisis. it’s no surprise, given that with 32 ministers and deputy prime ministers, it is currently the largest government in Europe,” Stanic said.

According to him, at the current pace of growth, fuel prices will certainly reach a level that will not be economically sustainable for much of Montenegro’s economy, which is 100 percent dependent on imported oil and its derivatives, with no plan in place to change that.

“When we add the Government’s tax and excise policies to this, it is no surprise that we have one of the highest inflation rates in Europe, which is something citizens notice every day,” Stanic concluded.