Čabarkapa stated that this project officially began on September 1, 2024, and by the time the project officially began, by December 31, 2025, or in less than a year and a half, 446,936.60 euros had been spent.
"From September 1 to December 31, 2024, 174,926.10 euros were spent, and the Editorial Encyclopedias It met six times. The work of the Editorial Board is chaired by Dragan Vukcevic", whose term as head of CANU ended immediately before his appointment as editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia. He organizes and coordinates the work of the Editorial Board in accordance with the Rules on the Creation of the Encyclopedia of Montenegro, which he signed while he was still the president of CANU," Čabarkapa pointed out.
Čabarkapa stated that according to the Decision on the Appointment of Members of the Editorial Board Encyclopedias of Montenegro, the following are entitled to monthly remuneration from the funds allocated for the project: the editor-in-chief (100% of the average net salary in Montenegro in the previous year), area editors (80%), as well as other members of the Editorial Board (60%).
"In the CANU Yearbook for 2024, which is still not publicly available on the institution's website, the then newly elected CANU president, Ljubisa Stankovic, stated that previous lexicographic projects had created "an excellent basis for starting work on the Encyclopedia", and that the work of the Lexicographic Center was the beginning of fulfilling the Academy's legal obligation. He also emphasized that the state recognized the importance of the project through the budget, noting that the dynamics and scope of work will depend entirely on the approved funds. He also expressed hope "that this will be one of the Academy's contributions to Montenegro's full membership in the EU, and that these two processes will be completed in approximately the same time frame," Čabarkapa emphasized.
Čabarkapa states that an additional 272,010.50 euros were allocated for the Encyclopedia in 2025, and the Editorial Board met 16 times. An insight into the minutes shows that most of the sessions were dedicated to work on the alphabet book, although the start of that process was planned for the third quarter of 2024, which indicates delays, although this should not be the case, considering the amount of funds being allocated and spent.
"CCE also requested the Editorial Office's work plan, but CANU referred us to the Work Program for 2026, which is of a general nature. CCE appreciates that for a project of this importance, with a set completion deadline (December 31, 2028) and costs that will exceed one million euros by the end of this year alone, there must be a special, detailed work plan with precisely defined deadlines and responsibilities," Čabarkapa emphasized.
CCE indicates that in 2026, at least 550,000 euros are planned for the Encyclopedia, with information about the constant growth of these costs. Namely, adds Čabarkapa, in addition to the already allocated funds, CANU continues to send requests for new budget funds. Just last week, by decision of the Government, a new 25,000 euros were redirected from one ministry to CANU for the needs of work on the Encyclopedia.
"CCE will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the project Encyclopedias of Montenegro and insists on full transparency, accountability and merit in its implementation. Given the significant public funds that are continuously being committed, it is unacceptable for such a project to lack a precise structure and a publicly available work plan. Encyclopedia of Montenegro "It must not be reduced to the formal fulfillment of a legal obligation, but must be a credible, professionally based and permanently valuable work of general social importance," Čabarkapa concluded in a statement.
