Used cars of Euro 4 standard currently imported into Montenegro are more than 15 years old and have a negative impact on traffic safety and environmental protection. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs (MSP) plans to seek changes to regulations in 2024 to prohibit their import and establish a new minimum standard of Euro 5.
This would mostly apply to the import of cars older than 2009 since Euro 5 standard was introduced in the EU at that time. Euro standards, introduced by the European Union (EU) in the 1990s, impose legal limits on harmful gas emissions from cars, gradually increasing in stringency. Montenegro currently requires imported new cars to meet Euro 6 and used cars Euro 4 standards.
The Ministry aims to make these changes to enhance road safety and protect the environment. It was not specified when these regulations might come into effect.
According to car importers, complying with the state import standards is not difficult, but they believe that greater incentives should be introduced for the import of low-emission vehicles, and taxes should be based on emission levels.
As of 2022, according to the Statistical Office Monstat, every third vehicle in Montenegro is older than 20 years. In terms of passenger cars registered in July, August, and September 2023, there were 67.4 thousand of them, with the majority produced in the 1990s and vehicles produced from 2005 to 2008.
The import ban would not affect the use of previously imported Euro 4 standard vehicles if they meet registration requirements.
Euro 5 standard vehicles can emit a maximum of one gram of carbon monoxide per kilometer, while Euro 4 vehicles had an upper limit of 1.14 grams. Under the Euro 1 standard, which was valid in the EU until 1999, vehicles could emit up to 13 grams of this gas, considered the main air pollutant.
Vehicles of Euro 4 standard, produced from 2003 to 2010 and older than 15 years, are considered outdated, impacting traffic safety and environmental protection. The Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs (MSP) plans to change regulations regarding their import and is proposing a new minimum standard of Euro 5. Currently, there are no restrictions on exporting such vehicles from Montenegro, but there are regulations for emissions and noise levels upon import and first placement on the market. The MSP plans to simplify administrative procedures and offer incentives for the import of environmentally friendly vehicles to stimulate this sector. Subsidies for importing new environmentally friendly vehicles are handled by the Environmental Fund. In 2023, the fund announced three tenders for subsidies for the purchase of hybrid and electric vehicles, with a total allocated amount of €266,000.
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