The Montenegro Anti-Corruption Network (MANS) has criticized the agreement between Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on cooperation in the tourism and real estate sectors, claiming it undermines fair competition and transparency. According to MANS, the essence of the agreement is to suspend tender procedures and allow a pre-selected investor to receive exclusive treatment, bypassing public and transparent processes.
The European Commission, in its official opinion, did not approve the agreement, warning that its implementation would directly violate EU rules and jeopardize Montenegro’s EU accession process. MANS emphasizes that the agreement’s Article 2.4, which exempts the requirement for public tenders, is in direct conflict with EU principles of transparency, competition, and equal treatment of investors.
“Implementing this provision would contradict EU standards and harm Montenegro’s international credibility,” MANS stated, further stressing that the agreement cannot be regarded as a serious state initiative or in the public interest.
MANS also expressed gratitude to the President for seeking the European Commission’s opinion on the matter. They believe that without this inquiry, Montenegro would have remained unaware of the serious legal and political consequences of the agreement, especially given the government’s stance that no EU opinion was needed.
Despite government reassurances that the agreement complies with EU standards, the European Commission’s direct warning about potential risks to Montenegro’s EU integration contradicts these claims. MANS urged the government to accept EU experts’ assistance, rejecting private deals with the pre-selected investor that could undermine local interests.
“A responsible prime minister would have explained to the UAE partners that Montenegro cannot deliver on the promises made. Instead of heeding the EU’s warnings, our prime minister has manipulated the content of the letter, which is publicly available. This behavior raises suspicions that the prime minister’s real goal is not aligning with EU standards but pushing through the agreement for the benefit of a pre-selected investor,” MANS added.
MANS called on the Parliament to demonstrate responsibility and commitment to Montenegro’s European path by rejecting the agreement in its current form. They urged MPs to ensure that the document is returned to the government for further review, emphasizing that this is not just about one agreement, but a test of Montenegro’s dedication to EU principles.
