HRA is surprised at the decision of the Constitutional Court not to decide with priority on initiative and proposal for review of constitutionality and legality of the Decree on the Method of Setting Maximum Retail Prices of Petroleum Products.

According to the Constitutional Court statement (published by the agency Mina-business), the judges do not consider that the decision on the most recent price increase of consumer goods such as fuel, is an issue of a “wider social significance”, which would give it priority in decision-making.

It remains unclear according to which criteria the Constitutional Court determines its priorities. HRA reminds that it urged the Constitutional Court already in February 2014 to first decide on the constitutionality of its own set-up (by deciding on constitutionality of the law terminating office of judges of previous convocation upon the proposal of the Ombudsman), as well as to publish a public schedule and priorities for decision making, especially in relation to cases in which decisions are pending for years.

HRA urges the Constitutional Court to reconsider its decision and consider the importance of fuel price increase in light of the poor standard of living in Montenegro, bearing in mind that last month the average salary in Montenegro amounted to only 476 euros and average pension only 273 euros.

HRA team