The Montenegrin Foreign Investors Council organized a new MFIC Talks event, featuring H.E. Johan Sattler, Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, as the guest speaker. The conversation was moderated by Remon Zakaria, Head of the EBRD Office in Montenegro and a member of the Council’s Board of Directors.
Ambassador Sattler emphasized that political stability plays a crucial role in strengthening the investment climate and advancing Montenegro’s EU integration. He recalled that political instability at the beginning of the year slowed down the reform process but noted that this challenge was overcome through joint efforts, expressing hope that the time lost in implementing reforms will be recovered.
“Montenegro has a great opportunity with the EU’s doors open, but we must be aware that these doors will not remain open indefinitely. The administration faces a serious challenge, particularly in strengthening its capacity to enhance the economy and the business environment, issues also highlighted by foreign investors in the White Book. However, the European Union is providing concrete support by engaging dozens of experts to assist Montenegrin institutions in implementing reforms in key areas,” Ambassador Sattler said.
Speaking about investor interest in Montenegro, particularly from outside the European Union, Ambassador Sattler stressed the importance of encouraging the arrival of credible investors. However, he also noted that it is advisable to carefully assess their overall impact on the country’s economic development and strategic interests:
“The geopolitical situation requires us to fully understand the effects certain investments may have. This is why the European Union has been applying a mandatory foreign investment screening mechanism since 2019, which operates across all member states. Montenegro, as an EU candidate country with clear prospects for accession, should adopt this best European practice to further strengthen its development policies,” Ambassador Sattler stated.
During the conversation, Ambassador Sattler also presented the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans as a key mechanism through which the European Union will support Montenegro. Unlike previous programs, this instrument is performance-based, meaning that financial support will depend on the successful implementation of reforms within set deadlines.
He used the opportunity to remind that Montenegro has already reached over 50% of the EU average GDP per capita but stressed that further reforms, strengthening sustainable investments, and reducing the economy’s dependence on tourism remain necessary.
Ambassador Sattler announced that, in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro, preparations are underway for a major investment conference to be held in October, aimed at further promoting the country’s comparative advantages on the international investment scene.
At the conclusion of the event, Remon Zakaria thanked Ambassador Sattler for the open dialogue and emphasized that the Council will continue to be a strong partner in the reform process. He reminded that this business association has, for the past 16 years, exclusively brought together foreign companies that generate more than 23% of Montenegro’s GDP and employ over 6,000 people.
The MFIC Talks event is a platform launched by the Montenegrin Foreign Investors Council to promote dialogue on economic development, supported by its patron members: CKB, One Montenegro, NLB Bank, Mtel, Luštica Bay, and Porto Montenegro.
