The Ministry of Finance of Montenegro, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the Convention Secretariat) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe, hosted a high-level meeting to discuss measures to combat the illicit trade of tobacco products in the Western Balkans.

During the meeting, multiple institutional representatives highlighted the severity of the illicit tobacco trade, which negatively impacts public health, public finances, and regional security.

The Ambassador of the EU to Montenegro, Johann Sattler, stated: “There is an urgent need for a strong and coordinated approach to tackling illicit tobacco trade, which will improve public health, protect state revenues, and enhance the fight against organised crime. The EU remains committed to supporting Montenegro in this effort. I urge Montenegrin institutions to seize this opportunity, take decisive steps, and demonstrate their commitment to upholding the rule of law, including the destruction of illegal tobacco products seized in 2022.”

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Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, stated that the illicit tobacco trade endangers public health, fuels organised crime, and deprives governments of vital revenues. She stressed that this complex challenge requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach. She highlighted the importance of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, which aims to eradicate all forms of such trade through a comprehensive set of measures that parties must implement in cooperation with other countries.

“This international agreement provides a solution to a global problem by addressing issues such as supply chain control, law enforcement, and international cooperation. By implementing the Protocol, we can significantly reduce the availability of illicit tobacco products, protect public health, and increase government revenues,” Marquizo stated.

The WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Henri Kluge, who joined via video link, praised Montenegro for its commitment to implementing key provisions of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. He stated that tobacco taxation is the most effective tool for achieving key goals in this fight, such as reducing tobacco use, preventing young people from taking up smoking, lowering healthcare costs related to tobacco-related diseases, and ultimately generating revenue for governments.

The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, emphasised that customs officers in the Free Zone of the Port of Bar had seized a significant number of cigarettes worth millions, preventing their further smuggling. He added that recent actions by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) and the Special Police Department (SPO) had resulted in the arrest of members of organised crime groups involved in cigarette smuggling. As a result, he stated, there are now practically no organised crime groups in Montenegro whose members have not been prosecuted.

As the institutional host of the event, the Minister of Finance of Montenegro, Novica Vuković, stated that coordination among Balkan countries is key to effectively resolving this issue and called for strengthening joint action and information exchange between states. He stressed that eliminating the illicit tobacco trade is not an option but a priority.

“Illicit tobacco trade is a global problem, and its impact particularly affects the countries of the Western Balkans. Although the situation is serious, I believe that through joint efforts, we will be able to take concrete measures to reduce this harmful practice,” said Minister Vuković. 

He added that Montenegro will continue strengthening fiscal policies and taxation rules and introducing new technologies to monitor the market to reduce illicit trade's negative economic and health consequences.

During the working segment of the meeting, policies and practical measures for combating illicit tobacco trade through regional and international cooperation were presented. Also within the framework of the event, a roundtable discussion titled: “Political Commitment to Eliminating Tax Evasion and Illicit Tobacco Trade in the Western Balkans" was held.