State Audit Institution of Montenegro launches warning strike

The State Audit Institution (DRI) of Montenegro has initiated a warning strike to demand higher salary coefficients and adequate office space. Employees are calling on the Government and the Ministry of Finance to implement a Parliament conclusion by September 30. Failure to meet these demands could lead to a full work stoppage, potentially impacting the audit of the 2025 budget and Montenegro’s European integration obligations.

In separate findings, the DRI issued a negative opinion regarding the Fund of Labor’s 2024 financial audit. The institution reported that the Fund does not maintain its own general ledger or reliable accounting records. Specific irregularities include the misclassification of 2.68 million euros in expenditures and 2 million euros incorrectly reported as budget reserves. The audit also identified instances of duplicate and undocumented payments, alongside a lack of an integrated information system to prevent such errors.

Additionally, the DRI reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not established an efficient migration management system, despite an 89 percent increase in foreign residents with temporary stays between 2021 and 2025.