The process of granting a concession for Montenegro’s airports is increasingly marked by institutional confusion and political interference, undermining public trust in the state’s ability to manage strategic infrastructure transparently and effectively, said Miloš Bukilić, an activist from the Montenegrin diaspora in Germany.
Rather than demonstrating Montenegro’s readiness to attract serious investors and improve air accessibility, the process, according to Bukilić, reveals a deep institutional weakness and a failure to resist political pressure and lobbying interests.
The recent decision to halt the concession procedure due to concerns about the legality and impartiality of certain members of the Tender Commission highlights a serious problem – the erosion of integrity within the system. The reaction of the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, is particularly troubling and serves as a serious warning that legal and procedural standards must be upheld.
Bukilić also expressed concern over the presence of regional power interests influencing the process, raising the question of whether Montenegro is truly making sovereign decisions regarding its infrastructure or becoming a battleground for foreign economic and political agendas. If it is true that the tender is being shaped to favor certain bidders, then the process is not only formally compromised but also strategically opposed to the country’s interests.
Airport management is not merely a technical issue, but a vital development matter for tourism, investment, and Montenegro’s international image. Given the recent struggles in the tourism sector, it is evident that there are efforts to weaken the country economically and infrastructurally for the benefit of foreign interests. Conducting the concession process, especially with Chapter 5 of EU accession negotiations nearing completion, should be a model of institutional discipline. Instead, it has become a symbol of systemic breakdown, threatening Montenegro’s future on many levels.
Unless the government ensures full transparency, resists political influence, and stops the personal and party-driven agendas within its ranks and from regional interest groups, it risks causing long-term harm both to the country’s reputation and the actual economic benefits that a well-executed concession could bring.
