The main highlight of the new Railway Law in Montenegro is the establishment of the Railway Agency, announced by Transport Minister Maja Vukićević. The law defines railway infrastructure management as a public interest activity and introduces a completely new legal framework aligned with the EU’s Fourth Railway Package, a key step toward meeting Montenegro’s EU accession requirements.
The law separates the two main railway activities: infrastructure management and railway operations. This separation is formal, operational, and financial, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest, enable competition in railway services, and provide equal infrastructure access to all operators.
The newly created Railway Agency will replace the existing Railway Administration and act as an independent regulatory body responsible for issuing licenses and safety certificates, supervising law and technical standards compliance, approving strategic documents, and monitoring market behavior. The agency will be institutionally and financially independent from political and commercial influence.
The law also sets clear mechanisms for infrastructure capacity allocation based on equality, transparency, and non-discrimination, with public availability of the network statement in Montenegrin and English.
Environmental protection, energy efficiency, and accessibility for persons with disabilities are important elements regulated by the law. It aims to integrate Montenegro’s railway system into the European rail area, encourage investments, boost competition, improve public transport efficiency, and enhance safety.
Minister Vukićević highlighted that €80 million has been secured for railway infrastructure improvements and expects to sign a reconstruction contract by the end of the year. Despite some delays in project implementation, the ministry has fulfilled important EU accession milestones ahead of schedule.
The Parliament will vote on the law later, with most parliamentary groups expected to support it.
