Since I took office as Minister of Transport, there has been no official or unofficial interest from Serbia regarding the Montenegrin Airports, stated Minister Maja Vukićević.
She emphasized that such a scenario was not possible during her term and that if any interest occurred before, it was under previous leadership, which she cannot confirm.
Earlier, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Siniša Mali had announced Serbia’s interest in the concession for Montenegro’s airports in Podgorica and Tivat. Mali mentioned that Serbia had expressed this intention several times to Montenegrin officials but sensed no willingness to include Serbia in the process.
Vukićević said Mali’s statement fueled media conflicts and that the term “drama” over the airports was exaggerated. She praised the professionalism of the Ministry staff and tender commission members who worked diligently for months.
The tender commission recently opened financial bids, confirming that South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) passed to the second round with an offer of 100 million euros fixed fee plus 35% of annual revenues as variable concession fees. Luxembourg-American company Corporación América Airports (CAAP) offered 101 million euros fixed plus over 17% variable fees.
Vukićević reminded that the concession process was supposed to be confidential but noted leaks of information to the media shortly after submission to the tender commission, which she condemned as unprofessional attempts to compromise the procedure.
She stated that the Montenegrin government, not any foreign entity, will decide on the fate of the airports, stressing the airports are not being sold but leased under concession agreements. She called for careful decision-making with broader consensus, including parliamentary debate, rather than only a government decision.
Regarding pressure on tender commission members, Vukićević said she was not aware of any, although public controversies could have created perceived pressure. The World Bank remains involved in the ongoing concession process.
