Montenegro
Montenegro has implemented a domestic legal and administrative framework for CbC reporting and a review of this will be included in the next peer review report.
Montenegro has made some improvements in the institutional, regulatory and operational environment for SMEs since 2012, although SMEs still face challenges resulting from an uneven economic recovery. Its technical standards are now largely harmonised with the EU acquis, business registration requirements have been further eased and e-government services have expanded. Tax payment procedures have further been simplified and made available electronically, with the double benefit of increasing tax compliance and curtailing informal economy activity. The government has also made considerable efforts to harmonise entrepreneurial learning across different national strategies. It has established an institutional infrastructure and financial instruments to promote innovation in SMEs. However, although the country has relatively well-developed microfinance products, access to finance continues to be a major constraint for SMEs. Montenegro should now consider further steps to enhance access to finance: among them to facilitate the establishment of a private credit bureau and initiatives to enhance financial literacy. The government should increase its efforts to provide horizontal and targeted business support services, particularly in the key areas of supporting SME access to foreign markets and providing financial and nonfinancial support for innovation. Montenegro might also consider integrating the entrepreneurship key competence into the curricula.