The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Union have opened a consultancy tender aimed at strengthening corporate governance, operational management, and institutional capacity at Monteput, the state-owned company responsible for Montenegro’s motorway and major road infrastructure. The total value of the project is €500,000, financed through a combination of EBRD-administered donor funds and EU support.
The assignment is designed to address structural and managerial challenges that have emerged as Monteput’s portfolio has expanded beyond its original mandate, most notably with the construction, operation, and financing of the Bar–Boljare motorway and related strategic road assets. As the company transitions from a project-specific vehicle into a long-term infrastructure operator with growing financial and operational complexity, both the EBRD and the EU are seeking to reinforce governance standards aligned with international best practice.
The selected consultants will work directly with Monteput’s management and supervisory structures to improve corporate governance frameworks, clarify roles and responsibilities between ownership, oversight, and executive functions, and strengthen internal controls. A significant focus of the engagement will be on upgrading financial management, procurement procedures, and risk management systems, with the objective of improving transparency, accountability, and decision-making discipline.
Beyond governance reform, the project also targets operational efficiency and institutional resilience. This includes reviewing existing organizational structures, staffing models, and reporting lines, as well as introducing performance management tools suitable for a company managing long-term infrastructure assets with high capital intensity and strict public accountability requirements. The consultants are expected to propose practical, implementable solutions rather than purely conceptual reforms.
From the perspective of the EBRD and the EU, the project fits into a broader agenda of strengthening state-owned enterprises in Montenegro ahead of further infrastructure investment and deeper integration with EU regulatory and financing frameworks. Improved governance at Monteput is seen as a prerequisite for future funding, whether through multilateral development banks, commercial lenders, or potential capital-market instruments linked to infrastructure assets.
The €500,000 technical assistance package also reflects growing lender sensitivity to governance risk in publicly owned infrastructure companies. As Montenegro continues to rely on external financing for large transport projects, the ability of entities like Monteput to demonstrate robust governance, professional management, and credible financial controls is increasingly decisive for access to favorable funding terms.
The consultancy tender is open to international firms with proven experience in corporate governance reform, infrastructure asset management, and public-sector institutional strengthening. The assignment is expected to run over several months, with outcomes feeding directly into Monteput’s medium-term development and financing strategy.
