The recent temporary closure of Chapter 5 – Public Procurement signals strong trust in the Montenegrin government and motivates the aim to temporarily close all chapters by the end of next year, said Finance Minister Novica Vuković during a panel on public procurement reform aligned with European standards.
Vuković highlighted that public procurement is a key indicator of progress in Montenegro’s EU accession process. Significant steps have been taken including the adoption of a comprehensive legal framework, development of the Central Electronic Public Procurement System (CEJN), and strengthening of institutions and inspections. The CEJN system has about 14,000 users and nearly 5,000 suppliers, offering transparency and reduced bureaucracy. A new monitoring system for simple procurements introduced last year led to recommendations for correcting irregularities, cancellation of some procurements, and referrals to inspections.
Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević emphasized that public procurement must serve citizens, not individuals, and that temporary closure of this chapter marks a solid foundation for continued reforms focused on transparency and accountability.
Sašo Matas, Director for Public Procurement in Slovenia, noted challenges identified in the European Court of Auditors’ report, such as reduced market competition and fewer bids per tender. He also stressed that while price often dominates tender evaluation, quality can be enforced through technical specifications and contractual obligations.
Jelena Jovetić, Director for Public Investments and Procurement Policy at the Ministry of Finance, said most tenders can be based on price alone, although quality criteria exist but have not been widely influential. Reforms introduced include a 100,000-euro annual limit for simple procurements and obligations to engage small and medium enterprises.
Nataša Cicmil, Secretary of the Public Procurement Rights Protection Commission, reported a reduction in complaint resolution times and fewer complaints overall. However, Dragoljub Bulatović, advisor to the President of the Chamber of Commerce, called for strengthening inspection bodies and increasing staff at the Commission.
Concerns were raised about exemptions from public procurement under international agreements, stressing the need to protect national interests and the domestic economy.
Civil society voices, including Dejan Milovac from MANS, argued that while EU accession offers opportunity, institutional capacity must be built to address transparency challenges. Milovac recalled issues in major infrastructure projects with subcontractor selection and legal problems.
Dragana Jaćimović from Institute Alternative called for clear identification and exclusion of companies failing contractual obligations, highlighting lack of criminal prosecutions despite large procurement volumes and ongoing corruption risks hidden from oversight.
State Auditor Tanja Dragović noted common irregularities such as unrealistic procurement plans, incomplete reporting, delays, and contract deviations, signaling continued need for oversight improvements.
