Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Siniša Mali has shown interest in obtaining the concession for the two international passenger airports in Podgorica and Tivat, Montenegro. This comes despite the fact that Serbia did not submit a bid during the official tender process, which closed in May and attracted only two foreign companies.
Serbian officials argue that Serbia’s involvement could accelerate the development of Montenegro’s airports by bringing experience from managing Belgrade Airport, which is currently under concession to a French company. However, this claim raises concerns among the public, given that Serbia’s own main airport is operated by a foreign concessionaire.
Economic analyst Mirza Mulešković emphasizes that without an official bid, economic benefits cannot be discussed, and points out the inconsistency of Serbia managing airports abroad while delegating management of its own airports to foreign companies.
Minister Mali stated that Serbia had repeatedly tried to join the concession process and claimed Serbia could contribute not only knowledge but also financial investments exceeding current proposals. However, this Serbian interest was not reflected during the formal tender.
The concession commission has remained silent on the status of the tender, leaving the future of Montenegro’s airports uncertain.
Professor Veljko Mijušković from the University of Belgrade sees the concession as strategically and economically beneficial for both countries, expanding Serbia’s role in managing important transport infrastructure while providing investment opportunities in a region with stable tourism revenues post-pandemic.
However, he acknowledges that political factors—such as historical tensions related to the Serbian population in Montenegro, the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Montenegro’s EU integration policies—are likely blocking progress. According to Mijušković, while economic logic favors cooperation, political suspicions hinder the process.
Mijušković also argues that it is not unusual for countries to grant concessions domestically to foreign companies while seeking to export their own expertise internationally. Serbia’s management experience with Belgrade Airport’s concession to Vinci is seen as a strategic advantage that could be leveraged in Montenegro.
Ultimately, the issue is heavily politicized despite being a prime example of strategic economic cooperation. Mijušković calls for overcoming political barriers to realize mutual benefits and stresses the need for objective assessment of the potential advantages from such a partnership.
