Ulcinj requires billions, more than any other city, as announced today by Vlade Bojović, executive director and member of the Presidency of the Europe Now Movement (PES).

“This funding is necessary not just for luxury investments, but to address the pressing environmental, urban, infrastructural, and economic issues. Ulcinj is the only coastal municipality in Montenegro that relies on the equalization fund for underdeveloped regions, and no amount of emotional appeals or banners from environmental and political activists can change that,” Bojović emphasized in a statement he shared on Facebook.

He further stated that it’s essential to recognize several key facts before any discussions arise.

“1. The state of Montenegro owns 14 million square meters in the hinterland of Velika Plaza, accounting for about 70% of the total area. This land remains entirely unused, unlike the beach itself, which is only active for 3 to 4 months each year.

2. Traveling to Ulcinj during the summer can take up to three hours due to inadequate transport infrastructure, whether coming from the border or nearby airports.

3. For decades, the hinterland has been treated as an illegal landfill, overflowing with solid and municipal waste, through which herds of cows wander freely.

4. The Bojana River, bordering the hinterland, is contaminated with fecal and industrial discharges not only from Ulcinj but also from neighboring Albania.

5. Erosion along the Bojana River poses a direct threat to the coastline and the Great Beach.

6. Ulcinj lacks essential infrastructure: no sewage system, no modern roads, no airport, no hospital—none of the facilities required for normal functioning, much less sustainable tourism.

7. Over the past thirty years, the city has suffered devastation due to failed privatizations and unregulated construction.

Bojić commented on the tender for the lease of the 8th beach, noting that the most interest came from tenants connected to local political entities—those who have not previously demonstrated responsible management.

“Ulcinj can no longer afford to wait,” he asserted.

“This situation clearly illustrates that past generations and the authorities of Montenegro and Ulcinj have not succeeded in managing their resources effectively. We need serious planning, substantial investment, and responsible individuals to execute these plans,” concluded Bojović.

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