Konatar: The state must have a long-term strategy for airports, the Port of Bar and EPCG

Member of the Presidency of the Civic Movement URA, Miloš Konatar, said that the state must have a strategic plan for the management and development of key resources, such as the Airports of Montenegro, the Port of Bar and the Electric Power Company of Montenegro, and not depend on the will of each new government that makes different decisions.

"The government has announced works that should enable the Airports of Montenegro in 2027 to be better than they are today. However, we do not know, if the same Prime Minister remains, what will happen to the Airports of Montenegro, whether they will continue to develop from their own funds and with their own management or whether the Prime Minister will again advocate a concession. The Minister of Transport said that, if Prime Minister Spajić leads the new Government, he is not sure whether he will be in favor of a concession or for the Airports to develop themselves. Every business and every investment requires a predictable business environment, and the Airports of Montenegro must embark on a new investment cycle as soon as possible," said Konatar.

He said that if he is a member of the new Government, URA will support the model according to which the Airports of Montenegro would develop with their own capacities.

"At this moment, in 2026 and 2027, all economic parameters indicate that Airports, with the support of the state, can launch a new investment cycle on their own and continue the modernization process. We believe that a state-owned company has the capacity to borrow, invest and develop, while at the same time keeping the most valuable state resources in state ownership," added Konatar.

He expressed his dilemma regarding the Prime Minister's involvement in the announced reconstruction and expansion of the Airport's capacity, recalling that it was the Prime Minister who had previously claimed that concessions were the only model through which Airports could develop.

"How can someone who does not believe in the state-run airport development model now be at the head of the team that is supposed to implement that very model? Why did we lose two years and end up in a situation where the entire process is compromised? URA called for that process to be terminated and for the state to decide whether to tender a new concession for both airports, just for one, or to start developing them itself, i.e. to enable the company Aerodromi Crne Gore to take out a loan and start investing," Konatar pointed out.

He assessed that giving one of the most valuable resources that Montenegro has as a concession is not a good solution.

"We need to stand behind the state-owned company and its management, which must be professional, so that the Airports of Montenegro can modernize and develop. The state must have a clear and long-term strategy for managing its key resources, regardless of who is in power," emphasized the member of the Presidency of GP URA.

He finally said that URA welcomes the fact that the Government is finally talking about the model of development of the Airports of Montenegro that the party has advocated for from the beginning, that the Airports remain state-owned and, with responsible and professional management, develop with their own capacities.