A working group has been established to draft amendments to the Law on Free Zones, announced Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economic Development, Nik Đeljošaj.
He stated that the working group would include representatives from state bodies and the non-governmental sector, with special emphasis on the expert support from the British Embassy.
“Through these amendments to the Law on Free Zones, we will create a favorable environment for attracting investments that will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of our economy, as well as economic growth and prosperity. I would particularly like to highlight that with this legal solution, the Free Zone at the Port of Bar will no longer be a zone that has for years served for cigarette smuggling and other illegal activities, but will serve exclusively for economic and business development and progress,” Đeljošaj said.
The Ministry of Economic Development (MER), based on the government’s anti-corruption strategy until 2028, has invited non-governmental organizations to participate in drafting this regulation, which governs the establishment of free zones and warehouses, management, and conditions for conducting business activities within them, as well as conditions for their closure.
“The primary goal of the amendments to the law is to combat illicit trade in free zones, increase transparency, and improve business standards, which further enables the growth of high-quality investments contributing to sustainable economic growth and strengthening the competitiveness of the economy,” stated MER in a prior public call.
They also emphasized that the new legal solutions will ensure that operations align with international standards, and that increased transparency will help build trust among investors and stakeholders, positioning Montenegro’s free zones as secure, reliable, and competitive on the global market. The plan also includes ensuring strong customs control, using advanced technological tools for tracking and monitoring goods, and encouraging cooperation with international regulatory bodies to combat illegal trade in these zones.
The government’s strategy mentions the importance of effective controls in free zones, noting that the lack of oversight not only affects the country in which the zone is located but also all partners with whom that country trades.
“Customs oversight and the control of goods stored in free zones, through periodic on-site inspections and inventory management, can also facilitate the proper handling of hazardous goods stored in these zones,” the government document states, referencing multiple international documents that urgently call for a high level of control over goods and activities in these zones.
The Free Zone at the Port of Bar came into the public spotlight two years ago after a seizure of cigarettes worth millions of euros, and several times, high-ranking EU officials and ambassadors have criticized the smuggling of cigarettes through this port.
