Montenegro’s President, Jakov Milatović, urged members of Parliament not to support the Bill aimed at ratifying the Agreement on Cooperation in Tourism and Real Estate Development between Montenegro and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during today’s session.

Milatović previously declined to sign the law in late April, which had been approved by the ruling majority in Parliament.

“I want to reiterate my appeal to the deputies to review the reasoning that prompted me to send the Law back for reconsideration. To put it plainly, this agreement does not align with Montenegro’s national interests. I urge all chosen deputies to prioritize the state interest and refrain from actions contrary to it. I have presented comprehensive arguments, and I trust they have been reviewed. Furthermore, I highlighted the clear stance from the European Commission indicating that the implementation of such an agreement may threaten our path toward the EU—a path that is crucial for our state interests. Honestly, I question whether reasoned appeals have any value in our current political climate. Are there deputies and political figures who are willing to consider rational, meaningful arguments?” Milatović stated to reporters in Budva.

“Ultimately, it will be up to the citizens to judge us,” he added, mentioning the possibility of submitting a proposal to review the law’s constitutionality with the Constitutional Court.

“This would be another institutional measure we could take. Influential organizations like Transparency International have clearly stated that this Agreement jeopardizes our European aspirations and raises numerous concerns regarding potential abuse of public resources, corruption risks, and lack of transparency. What more needs to be said for someone in the Montenegrin Parliament to withdraw support for something that contradicts state interests?” Milatović remarked.

He delivered these remarks at the International Conference on Economics and Business (MICEB 2025) in Budva.

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