Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – The United Reform Action (URA) has submitted amendments to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance to parliamentary procedure, proposing a €40 increase in pensions as of 1 April.

At a press conference in Parliament, URA representatives stated that this would raise the minimum pension in Montenegro from €450 to €490.

Head of the URA Parliamentary Group Milos Konatar, explained that their proposal does not require additional expenditure, as funds are already allocated in the budget. 

He said it is unbelievable that those who prepared this year’s budget at the Ministry of Finance and those who voted for it do not know how much money is available for increasing pensions and other social benefits.

“The proposed EUR 40 increase and the rise of the minimum pension to €490 implies an increase of the lowest pension by nine percent, the average pension by 7.5 percent, and those above the average by approximately five percent. The proposal also envisages pension adjustments four times a year, every three months,” Konatar stated.

He added that between €40 million and €45 million is needed in the budget to increase pensions by €40 as of April 1.