Montenegro is a candidate country for EU membership and expected to join schengen area after EU accession. PM Markovic said recently Montenegro will join the European Union on or before 2025.
At 96th cabinet meeting, Cabinet session passed the Draft Law Amending the Law on Border Control. The passing of the Law is primarily necessary for the harmonisation of border control tasks with the legal acquis of European legislation, bearing in mind that Montenegro is one of the candidates for EU membership and that after joining the European Union, it will be part of the Schengen area. The proposed provisions will improve the conduct of border control, which will contribute to better security at the Montenegrin borders, and therefore to better security of Montenegro in general.
Prime Minister Duško Marković said today that Montenegro has done the most difficult part of the process of European integration, that the closing of negotiation chapters represents an easier part of the integration process and that our country will definitely enter the European Union before 2025 or just in 2025.
PM Duško Marković, #PKCG conf: #Montenegro has done a huge job in the integration process. We’re not rushing with the membership date. Membership is not an end in itself. The process is an opportunity to adopt European values. We will join the #EU before 2025 or in 2025. @me4eu pic.twitter.com/pB76E3Kbh7
— Govt. of Montenegro (@MeGovernment) October 25, 2018
Citizenship by Investment
During the 87th cabinet session, Montenegro officially announced the launch of new citizenship by investment scheme known as ‘special investment scheme’. This new program is part of the Government’s ongoing effort to attract foreign direct investment resulting in the increase in economic activities and capital movement. In Nov 2016, Montenegro government released a tender for special investor program first announcing the intent for implementing economic citizenship scheme in Montenegro.
The Montenegro citizenship by investment program is expected to open in mid-november. Foreign investors are required to invest EUR 250,000 and pay EUR 100,000 (fee) to qualify for citizenship in Montenegro. The programme of economic citizenship will be available to up to 2,000 most relevant applicants from non-EU countries for a limited period of three years.
The Government has clearly stated that the CIP process will be implemented within the Government institutions and external influence will not be allowed.
Montenegro has experienced one of the highest growth rates in Europe for the second year in a row, while the share of tourism in GDP is over 22%.
PM Markovic recently said in a summit the economic citizenship scheme will boost growth and create more jobs.
“By introducing the programme of economic citizenship, we want to position Montenegro as the most prestigious tourist destination in the North Mediterranean. We want to transform our resources, with private money, into the potential for the country. We want to focus public money and state funds on strengthening our financial potential and stability. Thus, economic citizenship programme will help invest in projects that have started, develop our infrastructure, thus creating new jobs and making our beautiful country accessible to wealthy citizens from all around the world.
Montenegrin Passport
Montenegro passport is ranked 45th powerful passport in the world with visa free access to 123 countries according to Henley.
It is widely anticipated that Montengrin passport will have more value for its passport when the country joins EU and schengen area in 2025. Currently montengrin citizens can spend 90 days in 180 period EU member states and also can visit Russia. A visa is required to visit Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia etc.
