The Transporters' Association is still distrustful of the institutions to which they have submitted requests regarding VAT refunds, excise duty rates, and procedures at border crossings, which is why they blocked border crossings last week to draw attention to the long-standing requests.
In the Chamber of Commerce, as Đorđe Lješnjak said in the show Okvir, they did not have a reliable partner who would protect the interests of 140 transport associations, and other institutions, as he states, are still not resolving contentious issues.
"The government always refers to the policy of the European Union and harmonization with the European Union. Do you know what was happening in the European Union at this moment when there is this energy crisis? And the European Union was reducing excise duties in all countries by half, or all, or a third. While no carrier was left without an excise duty refund, but as a direct support to carriers, the amount of excise duty for refund was increased," he says.
The Ministry of Finance, Tarik Turković, State Secretary, says that VAT will be refunded within 60 days, acknowledging that there have been some delays of up to three years, while excise duties are determined according to European Union rules.
"Specifically, the Tax Administration operates in internal communication with them. I have information that in the future, meaning from now on, VAT refunds will be made to everyone on time and you will not have any, shall we say, insolvency. I have information that in the first three months, around 20 million euros were refunded," says Turković.
The Customs Administration implements an integrated control system which, according to Jelena Đukić, still has shortcomings.
"But I know for sure that if some goods have entered Božaj and the destination is supposed to be the customs terminal in Podgorica, there is no way that 72 hours can be allowed for the goods to be discharged. So, we must still have, in relation to the situation from which point of departure to which point of destination the goods are traveling, what are the conditions and state of the roads, what are the justified cases that you must allow 72 hours. A violation will certainly not be written if the carrier has presented sufficient facts," she pointed out.
Đorđe Lješnjak says that at this moment we are not talking about unforeseen situations.
"We are talking about regular situations, about all the rules that we are required to follow, and that is the rule on timely work, drivers' rest, which is prescribed by the law on the work of mobile workers," Lješnjak pointed out.
The Food Safety Administration is trying to extend the work of phytosanitary services and inspectors until 3 pm or 8 pm, but they adapt to each situation as needed, especially in the season, said the director of the Food Safety Administration, Vladimir Đaković.
"Of course, the second part of the problem is the review of the huge number of shipments related to the customs terminal, because there we also have a reduced number of inspectors. Of course, I will say that this year the Government of Montenegro recognized this problem and the Ministry of Finance approved funds for the employment of new employees of the Food Safety Administration. We will certainly get between 15 and 20 new ones this year," he pointed out.
The Transporters Association will make a decision on further steps by its bodies, because, as they announced in the show Okvir on Montenegro Television, only a third of their requests have been fulfilled.
