Montenegro State Audit Institution finds irregularities in several ministries

The State Audit Institution (DRI) of Montenegro has issued critical findings regarding the financial reporting and operational regularity of multiple government bodies.

In the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, auditors identified that €763,800 intended for construction works was incorrectly recorded under consulting services, projects, and studies. Additionally, the ministry engaged 73 individuals through service contracts, paying a total of approximately €453,727 in gross compensation for tasks often related to regular organizational functions.

The Ministry of Health received a double negative opinion from the DRI. Auditors highlighted issues including double-paid invoices, inconsistent salary records, and irregular public procurement. A significant concern involves millions of euros transferred to the UNDP for the ‘Strengthening the Health System in Montenegro’ project, which auditors noted were recorded in a manner that did not match the economic essence of the project activities.

The Ministry of Health has contested these findings, stating that the issues, such as double payments, were isolated administrative errors that have since been corrected. The Ministry maintains that all funds were managed transparently and that the DRI was provided with extensive documentation to support their operations.