Montenegro is preparing to launch a digital platform that will allow citizens to easily express interest in purchasing apartments in the Velje Brdo area, announced Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.
Spajić shared that interest in the project has been overwhelming, and this will soon be reflected in actual numbers. This statement was made in response to a question from Jovan Subotić, a member of the “Europe Now” movement, during a break in the session dedicated to the Prime Minister’s hour. Subotić asked what progress had been made regarding the project, when preparatory work would begin, and how citizens could apply to purchase apartments.
Spajić explained that the platform would offer apartments ranging from 60 to 100 square meters, catering to various social groups. The construction would use high-quality materials and optimal technical solutions to ensure the best possible standards.
He added that the 2024 budget allocates 10 million euros for the project: 5 million for infrastructure, nearly 4 million for building other structures, and 1 million for project development.
“The adoption of the planning documentation will create the necessary conditions to start concrete activities on the project, which has been actively prepared over the past period,” Spajić said.
According to Spajić, the public procurement plan will be approved in February 2024, and a tender will be issued for the preparation of the project documentation and the construction of a modern boulevard-type road with supporting infrastructure for the first phase of the Velje Brdo residential-business complex.
Simultaneously, detailed analysis and activities are underway to develop the project documentation for the first phase of urban blocks and apartments designed to meet the needs of modern living.
The construction of both infrastructure and buildings will proceed concurrently, with work expected to begin in the fall of 2024.
Spajić mentioned that the establishment of a dedicated organizational unit for managing the entire project is in the final stages. The overall project involves the construction of around 20,000 apartments, with the first phase covering approximately 5,000 units. The coordinated team plans to begin construction at the end of 2024, with the first residents expected to move in by 2026.
“Through responsible and quality financial and engineering planning, we will build a new urban settlement that will provide a high quality of life for its residents, according to the most modern standards,” Spajić stated.
He emphasized that the Velje Brdo project is of public interest, showcasing the government’s determination to improve citizens’ quality of life, retain young people in Montenegro, and enhance infrastructure and the economy.
The objectives of the Draft Law on Strategic Investments, which aims to improve the legal framework for such projects, were also highlighted by Spajić.
“The strategic approach intends to send a message that the government is working to make Montenegro an attractive destination for major investment projects, and with this new legal framework, we will build a better investment environment,” he concluded in his written response to a parliamentary question.
In response to a query by Jevrosima Pejović, a member of a special parliamentary group, about how the government plans to prevent the devastation of Montenegro under the Strategic Development Investments Law, Spajić said that while they respect neighboring countries’ efforts to improve citizens’ quality of life, they have modeled the law on the best practices of EU member states, particularly Greece and Croatia.
He emphasized that the current draft, which is in public discussion, is based on better practices from EU member states, in contrast to the legal models of neighboring countries such as Albania and North Macedonia, which are conceptually different.
“Investors expect efficient administration, which will respond to their requests and inquiries on time, ensuring that investments are not delayed due to bureaucratic inefficiencies,” Spajić said.
He concluded by stressing that the goal is efficiency, not speed that could lead to detrimental outcomes for Montenegro.
