Press release from the Office of the Prime Minister

In order to objectively inform the public, and in response to various interpretations from certain NGOs, political entities, and media regarding the cooperation agreements between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the United Arab Emirates, the Office of the Prime Minister issues the following statement:

• The proposals for the interstate agreements between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the United Arab Emirates were adopted at sessions of the Government of Montenegro, in accordance with the applicable legislation, international obligations, and are publicly available

• In the draft agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism and real estate development, which has been agreed upon by the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the United Arab Emirates, it is clearly stated that national legislation remains in force and will be applied, both in terms of planning documentation and in the area of environmental protection, construction of facilities, and other regulations, except for the part concerning the implementation of public procurement procedures and state property

• The Law on Public Procurement provides exemptions for procurements based on interstate agreements and international legal instruments, as defined in Article 13 of this Law

• This approach to public procurement has been harmonized with the European Union and will remain in effect until the end of 2026. It is planned that the same principle will soon be confirmed through agreements with two other EU member states

• The claims regarding the planned construction of large residential capacities for the market are inaccurate—such statements do not arise from the relevant documents and contribute to a misleading portrayal of the project, which is essentially conceived as a tourist complex, with facilities in accordance with international standards and the laws of Montenegro

• The allegations that a special law (lex specialis) is planned for the implementation of this project are false, as the Agreement does not contain any provision that would enable this, nor was such a possibility a subject of official communication

• The claims that institutional communication with potential investors began earlier through informal contacts are unfounded. The presentation of the country’s investment potential has been carried out through official visits and international events, with full transparency, as the public has been repeatedly informed

Such interpretations, coming from various sources—certain media, non-governmental organizations, and political entities—do not contribute to constructive dialogue, but rather may create confusion and distrust among citizens, and damage the international reputation of Montenegro. In this regard, we call on all actors to rely on facts, rather than assumptions or sensationalism, when communicating on important issues.