Montenegro’s Ulcinj municipality has completed a roughly €5 million wastewater project financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) after seven years of implementation. The municipality has taken over new wastewater and stormwater networks covering Kodre, Bijela Gora, Totoši and Donja Bratica, with around 14.5 kilometres of separate sewage and stormwater infrastructure delivered. Construction was carried out by Italian company SPIGA S.R.L., while C.&S. Di Giuseppe Ingegneri Associati provided supervision. The defect-notification period will run until May 2027.
The project addresses infrastructure needs linked to tourism, residential construction and population growth in Ulcinj, where increased activity has placed additional pressure on water, sewage, roads and waste-management systems, particularly during the summer season. Wastewater infrastructure is also part of Montenegro’s broader alignment of environmental systems with EU standards. Municipalities frequently rely on loans, EU grants and international financial institutions because of limited capacity to finance major utility networks independently.
The Ulcinj investment was supported through an EIB loan and forms part of a wider programme of internationally financed municipal infrastructure projects. Similar investments are advancing in Mojkovac, Kolašin, Bijelo Polje, Rožaje, Nikšić, Pljevlja and Cetinje. Since 2006, Montenegro has received more than €100 million in combined EIB and EU support for water and sanitation programmes. Despite this investment, only around half of Montenegro’s population is connected to wastewater collection systems, while water-supply network losses remain high. The government has established long-term targets for expanded sewer coverage and compliance with key EU water directives. For coastal municipalities, wastewater capacity is directly linked to development, as hotels, residential complexes and mixed-use projects require reliable sewage and drainage infrastructure. The seven-year implementation period also reflects challenges affecting municipal infrastructure projects, including permitting, procurement, property issues, contractor performance and administrative capacity.
For Ulcinj, the completed network separates wastewater and stormwater, reducing pressure on the system and improving infrastructure resilience during heavy rainfall. The municipality’s coastal economy also depends on environmental quality, with beaches and the coastal area representing key tourism assets. The economic impact of the investment will depend on the connection of users to the new network and its integration with wider wastewater treatment capacity.
