Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Works has signed a 2,055,226 euro contract with Nikšić-based construction company Ramel to build the Božaj Border Inspection Post, the ministry said. Ramel must complete the work within one year of being given the go-ahead to start, as Montenegro prepares border checks for European Union requirements.
The contract, signed on 9 September 2026, sets the basic construction price at 1,698,534 euros, with value-added tax of 356,692 euros. The ministry tendered the project on 19 May 2026; Bemax and Universal Engineering also took part, alongside the winning bidder.
Ramel may use subcontractors for specific work, including construction, surveying and electrical installation. The agreement provides for a five-year warranty, which begins after the final report from the technical supervisor and handover of the facility.
If the contractor is responsible for missing the deadline, the ministry can charge one per mille of the total contract value per day, capped at 5% of the agreed price. The contract sets the penalty against delays caused by the contractor.
Six sites targeted by November 2027
Božaj is one of six border control posts Montenegro plans to build or upgrade by November 2027. The other sites are at Dobrakovo on the border with Serbia, Ilino Brdo with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kula with Kosovo, as well as Podgorica Airport and the Port of Bar.
The government set out the programme in a roadmap adopted in February. It identifies priorities, timing and funding for establishing the posts; Božaj is also scheduled for completion by November 2027 under the roadmap. The estimated funding gap across all six sites is 13,730,000 euros, and construction or upgrades are to be financed mainly from the state budget.
The main design for Božaj has been completed, with 30,000 euros paid for it through the 2021 Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance programme. The post will be built on state-owned land. Tuzi Municipality has issued urban planning and technical conditions for the facility, while water-supply conditions are still pending.
Controls linked to EU accession requirements
The posts are intended to bring checks on goods at Montenegro’s crossings into line with EU standards. When Montenegro joins the bloc, its state borders will become external EU borders. If inspections at the six sites do not meet EU standards, transport of food products, animals, seeds and planting material will be suspended.
Border veterinary and phytosanitary inspectors will carry out official checks on animals and goods. The roadmap says each post must be near the point of entry into the EU and have qualified staff, suitable premises, equipment and systems for inspections. It describes construction and outfitting as a “key prerequisite for effective official controls, protecting public health, animal and plant health, and ensuring compliance with European standards.”
The roadmap links the facilities to Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations under Chapter 12, “Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy.” The Food Safety Administration is to prepare project documentation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Interior and the Customs Administration. The roadmap assigns tenders for construction and equipping to the Ministry of Public Administration, while documentation is funded mainly by EU pre-accession assistance and the World Bank.
