Members of Parliament neglected the interests of citizens when they once again voted for an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), directly violating the Constitution of Montenegro and its laws, announced Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović.

He met today with representatives from various non-governmental organizations, the Association of Lawyers of Montenegro, and experts to discuss the legal implications of the agreement between the Montenegrin and UAE governments concerning tourism and real estate development.

“I felt it was my responsibility to engage with prominent civil society organizations and experts about all legal implications of the agreement that suspends essential domestic regulations, including those on public procurement, state property, and competition protection, as well as potential institutional mechanisms to safeguard public interest in this matter,” Milatović stated.

As noted by his Public Relations Office, Milatović pointed out that many legal scholars, civil sector representatives, international organizations, and the European Commission (EC) have criticized the contentious clauses of the agreement.

The participants of the meeting concurred that the agreement with the UAE contains stipulations that infringe upon the constitutional and legal framework and that its approval sets a precarious precedent.

In attendance at the meeting were Vanja Ćalović-Marković, executive director of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector; Stevo Muk, president of the Board of Directors of the Alternative Institute; Branislav Radulović, president of the Lawyers Association; Maja Kostić-Mandić, vice president of the Lawyers Association and professor at the University of Montenegro; and Miodrag Iličković, former judge of the Constitutional Court.

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