These days, we are witnessing yet another announced act of plunder – this time against the state of Montenegro and its citizens. As per the old bad habit, it is being looted by those in power, this time in an particularly amateurish and brazen manner. There is little left in this piece of natural paradise we call home that has not been tainted by bad privatizations, backroom deals, and corruption. Now, it seems, the most beautiful and longest stretch of sandy beach in Europe, one of the few remaining natural gems we still have, is next in line.
The agreements with the UAE, signed by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and hastily ratified by Parliament – despite objections from the Municipality of Ulcinj, civil society, opposition MPs, and importantly, many citizens (including about 12,000 who signed a petition against the deal) – are a green light for a land grab at Velika Plaža (the Great Beach) and other Montenegrin resources. Why else, as MP Boris Mugoša pointed out, would new agreements be necessary when two already exist between Montenegro and the UAE? Perhaps because some new officials want to “build themselves in”…
An agreement for the investor, not the state
What does the adopted controversial Agreement with the UAE on tourism and real estate development actually enable?
First, it includes no €20, €30, or €35 billion in investments, as the Government initially claimed. Alabbar himself – the clearly designated investor – announced in the media a much smaller amount and a different financial structure. He stated he plans to invest around €2 billion and secure the rest through loans. In other words, Montenegro will grant foreign investors a lease on land of immense value for 99 years, which they will then mortgage to secure credit, build apartments, sell them in advance – and likely disappear once the projected profit is made.
Furthermore, the Government of Montenegro has committed to preparing all the necessary infrastructure for this private investor’s project, placing him in a privileged position over any others who wish to invest in the country. It is worth noting the poor infrastructure in many parts of Ulcinj, which the Government has ignored, even though improving it would serve the public interest. Naturally, one must ask: could we not do this ourselves, on our own terms, for the benefit of Montenegrin citizens and the state, rather than for someone else? Shouldn’t the most valuable state resources be used for public good, maximizing benefits for the state rather than a private investor? Shouldn’t the investor be obligated to build infrastructure that benefits the local community and entire Montenegro? Shouldn’t natural assets, flora, and fauna be protected by law? Shouldn’t most of the beach be preserved so that every citizen of Montenegro can continue to access and enjoy it?
Beneath the colorful lies – the grey reality of power
I remember when we were kids, our parents would tell us, “If you’re good, I’ll buy you a colorful treat”. I don’t know about you, but as a naive child, I imagined that non-existent gift as a colorful plastic shelf and was left confused – why would I want a colorful shelf? That’s exactly how Prime Minister Spajić fills the shelves – with colorful lies and empty promises – treating citizens as if they were gullible children.
€30 or €40 billion? Later, the Prime Minister claimed that this wasn’t the investment amount, that we misunderstood him, and that it referred instead to the potential long-term effect the investment could generate. And from the immense potential of the most valuable beach in Europe, as the investor explained, we’ll “capitalize” on it by importing and selling foreign shampoos – since we don’t produce our own?
A serious person must ask: does Spajić even believe the nonsense he’s spouting, or – more likely – is he deliberately mocking citizens, delivering these lines with a smirk? He came to power on a few flashy promises like a 7-hour workday and a 25% salary increase for all. Yet we still work 8 hours, and most people saw modest raises of 5%, quickly erased by skyrocketing inflation. Back in September last year, according to his promises, the ceremonial shovel should have already broken ground for the highway; same with the grandiose pre-election project of Velje Brdo and 20,000 apartments by 2026. But here we are in 2025 – and none of it has even begun.
Parliament as a rubber-stamp machine
During recent parliamentary committee sessions, we again witnessed a blatant lack of democratic capacity among decision-makers and the ongoing manipulation of institutions. The newly appointed Minister of Public Works, installed just days before the agreement with the UAE was to be adopted in Parliament, seems to have been placed there for one sole purpose: to ensure the ratification and implementation of those agreements. Her style of discussion and argumentation is a clear reflection of the Government, the Europe Now Movement (PES), and the broader parliamentary majority – living in a bubble of self-sufficiency and detached from the citizens. Despite appearing well-prepared for public appearances, the minister failed to provide the necessary answers – especially when it came to the substance. In a live broadcast on the national public broadcaster, she even went so far as to belittle MPs, claiming that even if they had received a correct translation of the agreement and more time to read it, it wouldn’t have helped them. The message was clear: MPs from the ruling majority will vote for whatever is is served to them, no need to read what they are voting on. Such a condescending attitude wasn’t seen even during the most arrogant days of the DPS government. The extent to which PES has overstepped is evident in the feigned distancing by the DNP, and the calculated, half-hearted defense of the agreements by other coalition partners – just enough to preserve their share of power or leverage it for further gain, often by voting without conviction. The only exceptions were the Albanian minority parties, which did not vote, along with MPs from URA, the SD, and the DPS. Some explicitly voted against the agreement, while others – like DPS – left the chamber before the vote took place.
The legal order – an obstacle in the “deal of the century”
The ratified agreements with the UAE – specifically the Agreement on Tourism and Real Estate Development – are incompatible with Montenegro’s legal framework. Their content requires amendments to the Law on Spatial Planning and Construction, the Law on Expropriation, and others. Additionally, the agreement effectively suspends the Law on Environmental Protection, the Public Procurement Law, and numerous by-laws. Furthermore, the agreement raises serious concerns regarding constitutional guarantees – such as protection against the restriction or distortion of free competition, prevention of monopolistic or dominant market positions, and the preservation of protected natural areas. It undermines the very concept of Montenegro as an ecological state and far exceeds the constitutional limitations on long-term land leases. All of this clearly puts Montenegro at risk of legal consequences. It wouldn’t be the first time the country and its citizens have been forced to pay compensation to an investor due to irresponsible governance.
The story of Velika Plaža and this controversial agreement with the UAE is no longer just about tourism. It is about our relationship to the state, the law, and the future we leave behind. This is not just a a battle for sand and sea – it is a fight for the right to decide our own fate, despite irresponsible decision-makers focused solely on their own interests.
Nikola Mirković, Program Associate at the Centre for Civic Education (CCE)