1,96 million euros for control at Božaj

The Ministry of Public Works has issued a €1.961.360 tender for the construction of a border control post (BCP) at Božaj, in order to bring the border crossing with Albania up to European Union (EU) standards for goods checks. The company that wins the job will have a year to build the facility.

Montenegro plans to build or adapt a total of five more checkpoints by November 2027, in addition to the one at Božaj, at the border crossings of Dobrakovo (Serbia), Ilino brdo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Kula (Kosovo), as well as one checkpoint each at Podgorica Airport and the Port of Bar. These checkpoints are expected to cost the state treasury around 13,7 million euros in total.

On the day of accession to the EU, Montenegro's state borders become the external borders of that union, so controls at these six crossings must be carried out according to local standards, otherwise the transport of food, animals, seeds and planting material will be suspended.

The tender for the construction of the GKM in Božaj will last until the end of June, and the contractor will have 360 ​​days to build the facility after signing the contract. The company will also have to submit a performance guarantee of up to 10 percent of the contract and a professional liability insurance policy of 100.000 euros.

According to the Roadmap for the construction and improvement of GKM in Montenegro, which the Government established in February, the construction of these facilities is part of the obligations in the negotiation process with the EU within Chapter 12 - Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, while the document determines the strategic directions, priorities, dynamics and money for the formation of GKM, in order to ensure the systemic development of infrastructure and establish an efficient control system at the future external borders of the alliance.

For the construction of the GKM "Božaj", a main project was prepared and 30.000 euros were paid from the IPA program (the EU's instrument for pre-accession assistance) in 2021, while the facility will be built on a state-owned plot. The Map states that the Municipality of Tuzi has issued urban and technical conditions, that they are waiting for water supply, and that they expect the facility to be established by November 2027.

This and other similar facilities will have official controls of animals and goods carried out by border inspectors, must be built near the point of entry into the EU, have qualified staff, the necessary premises, equipment and systems...