PMQs - PM Krivokapić: Government has reached agreement with Concessionaire to abolish collection of tolls on road Herceg Novi - Trebinje in May

"This is one of the issues and initiatives whose solution in the short term will bring long-term benefits to citizens and businesses in Montenegro and another indicator that this Government is working for the benefit of all its citizens," said Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, answering a question of Boris Bogdanović from the MP Group "Democrats - Demos - Peace is Our Nation", whether and when Montenegro will conclude an agreement with the concessionaire Universal Monte, so that the state would take over the management of the main road Herceg Novi-Trebinje from this concessionaire and thus end the obligation to pay tolls on this road, which would be especially important during the tourist season.

Krivokapić said that regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations are one of the strategic priorities of the Government.

In this sense, the improvement of trade relations and the promotion of Montenegro as a prestigious tourist destination occupy an important place on the priority list. All activities that contribute to the realisation of the mentioned priorities are considered by the Government with due care and appropriate measures are taken to implement them. In accordance with the above, the municipality of Herceg Novi sent the Government an initiative for the purchase of a concession agreement for the road between Herceg Novi and Trebinje, for which a toll is paid, for only 12 kilometers of road. On the basis of this initiative, negotiations have begun with the concessionaire Universal Monte, and we are very close to solving this problem that afflicts citizens, businesspeople and tourists who visit Montenegro, Krivokapić said.

The Prime Minister announced that the mentioned road was designed and built according to the "build-use-handover" arrangement, and that the contract was signed between the municipality of Herceg Novi and the concessionaire Universal Mont on the basis of the Construction Agreement.

"The agreed price of the works on the 12.8-kilometer section was EUR 18.5 million, and on that occasion the concessionaire received the right to collect the toll for 20 years. Having in mind the importance of that road route and the reduction of costs for tourists and the economy that circulate in that area, the Government reached an agreement with the concessionaire that the collection of tolls will stop in May this year. This is one in a series of successes of this Government that will bring direct benefits to the citizens and businesspeople of Montenegro, especially at the moment when the tourist season begins," said Prime Minister Krivokapić.

The Prime Minister said that, when it comes to financial consequences, the municipality of Herceg Novi is expected to pay EUR 4 million from its budget to the concessionaire Universal Monte in January 2022, thus finalising the purchase of the concession for the road Herceg Novi - Trebinje.

Krivokapić noted that this is just one indicator of how the cooperation between the Government and local self-government can bring direct benefits to the citizens of Montenegro. Therefore, he encouraged other local governments to submit proposals in the same manner, which will be considered by the Government and resolved in accordance with the possibilities.