The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the economy and deepened social vulnerabilities around the world, including in Montenegro. It is expected that the aftershocks of the pandemic will continue to be felt for years to come, with existing vulnerabilities only compounding. In that respect, support measures are needed for businesses and individuals to alleviate the negative consequences of the pandemic.

This budget support programme aims to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Montenegro. It has three specific objectives:

• to reduce the negative effects of the crisis on the economy;
• to preserve vulnerable social groups from the disruptive effects of the crisis and guarantee their continued access to basic social services;
• and to increase access of vulnerable businesses to economic relief.

However, support measures for businesses should not derail the efforts to tackle the ongoing environmental challenges. Both economic and environmental viability are important for businesses to survive in the long run. The post-COVID recovery must reflect the principles of sustainability, resilience and climate neutrality that facilitate the transition to resource-efficient and circular economies, thus integrating the principles at the heart of the European Green Agreement.