Montenegro's EU Accession Expected to Boost Productive Foreign Investment and Unlock EU Funds

Foreign direct investment in Montenegro rose modestly last year, up about 8% year‑on‑year to roughly €40 million in real terms, while the share of productive investment fell and real‑estate investment grew. The Council of Foreign Investors, representing 40 companies that account for 21% of Montenegro’s GDP and employ around 6,000 people in sectors such as telecommunications, banking, tourism and energy, says EU membership could bring a more stable and higher‑value flow of productive FDI, creating new jobs and higher wages. Montenegro also expects to receive about €3.2 billion from the EU budget over the next six years, which could further improve living standards.

Andrea Popović of the European Policy Network warns that access to EU funds is not automatic; it depends on the country’s absorption capacity, the readiness of project documentation, and the quality of its public administration. Institutional preparation, coordinated project portfolios and skilled staff are essential to convert available EU financing into tangible development outcomes once Montenegro joins the EU.