Montenegro Velje brdo project controversy

The Velje brdo housing project in Montenegro continues to face scrutiny regarding transparency, procedural legality, and implementation timelines.

Following orders from the Agency for Personal Data Protection and Freedom of Access to Information, the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property was required to release documentation to the Association of Tenants concerning financing, allocation criteria, and implementation plans. This followed a determination that the Ministry had violated procedural rules regarding information access.

In response to an anonymous report alleging irregularities in an international competition for the project’s first residential block, the Special Police Department (SPO) questioned Minister Slaven Radunović and Chief State Architect Mirjana Đurišić. Civil activist Aleksandar Dragićević has criticized the project, noting that the Ministry previously had to cancel a competition after warnings that it was illegal and inconsistent with regulations. Dragićević also raised concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, noting that members of the selection commission were affiliated with the same university. Minister Radunović has denied any wrongdoing or personal responsibility for potential illegalities.

Recent criticisms have also targeted the project’s timeline. Ana Novaković Đurović, Vice President of the Civil Movement URA, noted that while initial projections suggested residents could move in by June 2026, new reports indicate construction may not begin until this December. Novaković Đurović argued for a sustainable housing policy focused on building on existing state or municipal land to maintain affordability, rather than large-scale, infrastructure-heavy projects.