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Airports of Montenegro issue is still pending

Aerodrom

One year passed since Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs announced that the country would award the concession for the right to use the Airports of Tivat and Podgorica and nothing changed. Public consultation was held last year in August.

This issue has attracted the attention of the European Commission which addresses it in its last Progress Report.

While analyzing Montenegro’s results achieved in performing its tasks envisaged by Chapter 14 – Transport policy, the EC has warned that the Government hasn’t rendered the decision in relation to the future of Montenegro Airlines which is faced with serious financial sustainability problems. An option study was conducted in 2018, but no decision on the future of the company has been taken yet.

“Opinion of the EC is just another proof that this concession project is unlawful and that there are still many outstanding issues that might inflict serious damage to the country”, said the representative of the Airports of Montenegro.

They reiterate that giving up on this concession project would be the best solution.

Mr Nurković has said earlier that the Government has found the partner for MA. Although he refused to be precise, Mr Nurković said it was “a big company”. There have been speculations that German investment Fund 4K will take over the Airports. A couple of years ago, it took over Slovenian national air carrier, Adria Airways and let it to even more complicated situation.

President of the Council of the Agency for Protection of Competition, Mr Miodrag Vujović, said that it was agreed with the EC representatives that solution to MA issue should be found not later than the end of December.

In the Progress Report, EC addressed the very important issue of awarding concession for the right to use Airports. Public and a number of coalition partners opposed the Concession Act prepared by the Ministry.

“The government plans to offer 25- or 30-year concessions the country’s two main airports in Podgorica and Tivat. The future concessions should comply with the upcoming legislation on public-private partnership and concessions”, says the EC Report.

Montenegro hasn’t adopted the Law on Public-Private Partnership yet.

“Concession Act is not in accordance with the solutions of the existing Law on Concessions since that arrangement stipulates three parties”, said the representatives of the Airports unofficially.

Representatives of the Ministry have said that the law could be interpreted in many ways.

“The approach that what is not explicitly allowed is forbidden is wrong. A law cannot be interpreted in that way”, said the representatives of the Ministry.

Social Democrats, whose members manage the Airports, have been repeatedly saying that the concession act drafted by the Ministry of Transport, is unlawful.

Concession Act was taken off the agenda in May as some ministers wanted to know the details of the document. Social Democrats want the Act to be amended and harmonized with the law.

 

 

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