Butorović, Mikijelj: Zero tolerance for illegal construction and the grey economy during the summer season

With the aim of ensuring high-quality preparation and coordination of the upcoming summer tourist season, a key meeting was held today between Minister Milutin Butorović, who also serves as Chair of the Coordination Body for the harmonisation and monitoring of inspection oversight, and Executive Director of the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management Mladen Mikijelj, along with their associates.

The meeting was also attended by the Chair of the Working Group for the preparation and monitoring of the summer tourist season, Miomir Tapušković, adviser to the Coordination Body and tourism inspector Andrej Vučeković, as well as adviser Jovana Dragović. On behalf of the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management, Assistant Director Ivana Franeta and Head of the Coastal Zone Concessions Department Nikola Kralj were present.

The main topic of discussion was the synchronisation of activities of all competent authorities in order to ensure full compliance with the law by all entities operating along the Montenegrin coast. The focus was placed on three key priorities: suppression of the grey economy through intensified supervision of all economic activities in the coastal zone; combating unregistered accommodation services; and strict enforcement of the rule requiring that 50% of beach areas designated as public beaches remain free of beach furniture.

During the meeting, particular attention was given to the case of illegal construction at Slovenska Beach, where it was determined that the investor had significantly exceeded the parameters defined by the urban-technical conditions.

If the investor fails to restore the site to its original condition within the prescribed deadline, the contract between the user and the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management will be unilaterally terminated.

The deadline for remedying the irregularities and aligning with the issued conditions expires on Monday, after which the competent inspections and the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management will undertake decisive legal measures.

The interlocutors agreed that protecting space and preserving Montenegro’s image as a tourist destination is a shared priority. The state will not tolerate the usurpation of public areas nor operations outside the legal framework, and the intensive cooperation between the Coordination Body and the Coastal Zone Management will continue on a daily basis throughout the season.