The Government of Montenegro has approved a grant agreement worth €9.5 million for infrastructure improvements in the coastal municipality of Tivat, marking another step in the modernization of water supply and wastewater systems along the Adriatic coast. The initiative was presented by Damjan Ćulafić, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, as part of a broader investment programme aimed at strengthening environmental infrastructure in coastal cities.
The funding will support the project titled “Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal on the Adriatic Coast – Phase V, Component 2, Municipality of Tivat.” The programme focuses on improving the reliability and capacity of the local water supply network while upgrading wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure.
The €9.5 million grant has been secured through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), a joint initiative of the European Commission, international financial institutions and bilateral donors that finances strategic infrastructure projects across the Western Balkans. The mechanism is designed to support regional development and help candidate countries align their infrastructure standards with European Union regulations.
According to the Ministry, the funds will finance a series of priority activities aimed at modernizing municipal utility systems. These include the reconstruction and expansion of water supply networks, improvements to the sewage system, increased system capacity, and measures to reduce water losses within the distribution network. The project also includes environmental components designed to strengthen the protection of coastal waters from untreated wastewater discharges.
Government officials emphasize that the investment plays an important role in preserving the marine ecosystem and supporting the sustainable development of Montenegro’s coastal region. Improving wastewater management is considered particularly important for maintaining water quality in the Adriatic Sea, which directly affects tourism, fisheries and environmental protection along the coastline.
Minister Ćulafić noted that the broader objective of the programme is to ensure reliable and high-quality water supply services while bringing Montenegro’s municipal infrastructure closer to EU environmental standards and regulatory requirements. Strengthening water and sanitation systems is also a key component of the country’s obligations under the EU accession process, particularly within the environmental policy framework.
The Tivat investment forms part of a wider regional infrastructure initiative implemented under Phase V of the Adriatic coastal water programme, coordinated through the regional utility company Vodacom. Within the same framework, related projects are being carried out in other coastal municipalities such as Ulcinj and Kotor, where similar investments focus on upgrading water supply systems, wastewater treatment facilities and related infrastructure.
For Tivat, the project represents an important step in addressing long-standing pressures on municipal infrastructure created by rapid tourism growth and urban development along Montenegro’s coast. During peak tourist seasons the demand for water services increases significantly, while the capacity of sewage and wastewater systems becomes a critical environmental issue for coastal ecosystems and beaches.
By expanding the capacity of the water supply network and improving wastewater management, the investment is expected to support both environmental protection and economic activity in one of Montenegro’s most dynamic coastal municipalities. Strengthening utility infrastructure is also seen as essential for sustaining the development of tourism, residential construction and marina-based activities that increasingly define the local economy.
Within Montenegro’s broader infrastructure strategy, projects such as the €9.5 million WBIF grant for Tivat illustrate the growing role of European financial instruments in funding municipal development. Through grant-based and blended financing mechanisms, EU institutions and international lenders are increasingly supporting infrastructure upgrades that align the country’s environmental and utility systems with European standards while improving the quality of life for local residents.
