Spajić and Macron: France stands with Montenegro; cooperation brings projects worth more than €1 billion

Five agreements and memorandums of cooperation signed between representatives of the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the French Republic

Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajić, together with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, attended the signing ceremony of several agreements and memorandums between representatives of the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the French Republic in Cetinje.

Prime Minister Spajić welcomed President Macron, describing the visit as a historic one, taking place at a historic moment for both Montenegro and Europe.

Thank you for your support for Montenegro and for the trust you have placed in us. Today, together, we are opening a new chapter in relations between Montenegro and France, Prime Minister Spajić stated.

He emphasized that the intergovernmental agreement signed between the two countries last year had generated significant interest in Montenegro.

President Emmanuel Macron thanked his hosts for the warm welcome and recalled Prime Minister Spajić’s recent visit to Paris.

This visit to Montenegro is important for the friendship between our two countries, as it marks the first official visit by a President of France. The moment is both symbolic and decisive. Twenty years after restoring its independence, Montenegro has achieved remarkable progress on its path towards European Union membership, President Macron said.

He noted that the agreements signed today demonstrate the shared determination to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

I am particularly pleased with the agreement concerning the construction of the new Clinical Centre. Cooperation in the field of defence is also developing intensively, President Macron stressed.

He also underlined the importance of jointly combating disinformation, which he described as essential for protecting democracy.

The European future of Montenegro was at the centre of discussions between the two leaders.

Montenegro has achieved a great deal, and France recognises and respects what has been accomplished. I am confident that you will continue with the same determination, Macron said, adding that France would remain firmly by Montenegro’s side.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic regarding European Union enlargement and raising awareness of Montenegro’s path towards EU membership was signed by  Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro Maida Gorčević and Minister Delegate for European Affairs at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Benjamin Haddad.

The document reaffirms the strong commitment of both countries to Montenegro’s European future and to further strengthening cooperation in promoting the European Union enlargement process.

The Contract for the Design and Construction of the New University Clinical Centre of Montenegro in Podgorica was signed by Minister of Public Works of Montenegro Majda Adžović and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Bouygues Bâtiment International Christophe Petit.

This project represents one of the largest healthcare infrastructure investments in Montenegro, with an estimated value of at least €313 million and an expected completion date in 2031.

A Memorandum of Understanding for the Development of the A2-2 Section of the Adriatic-Ionian Highway was signed by Director General of Monteput Milan Ljiljanić and Development Director of Bouygues Travaux Publics Benoit Lange.

Through this document, the parties agreed to cooperate on the preparation of the project’s Feasibility Study and on subsequent activities arising from the study, in line with the intergovernmental agreement between Montenegro and France.

The A2-2 highway section, as part of the Adriatic-Ionian Highway, constitutes one of the key components of Montenegro’s Strategic Motorway Master Plan.

The Agreement on the Implementation of the Second Tranche of the Development Policy Loan (DPL), amounting to €100 million, was signed by Minister of Finance of Montenegro Novica Vuković and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the French Development Agency (AFD) Bertrand Walckenaer.

The second tranche of the DPL arrangement builds on the cooperation established in 2024, when the Ministry of Finance and AFD concluded a €50 million financing arrangement supporting reforms in the areas of environment and climate change.

The new arrangement will support the continued implementation of reforms aimed at improving waste management, developing renewable energy sources, promoting sustainable forest management, reducing pollution, and strengthening climate resilience, in line with Montenegro’s obligations under the EU accession process.

A Tripartite Partnership Agreement was signed by Chief Executive Officer of CEDIS Vladimir Ivanović, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AFD Bertrand Walckenaer, and Chief Executive Officer of EDF International Networks Sébastien Ruiz.

The agreement establishes strategic technical cooperation focused on the modernisation of Montenegro’s electricity distribution network and the strengthening of capacities for the energy transition.

The agreement has been concluded under AFD’s FEXTE technical assistance programme, with grant support amounting to up to €290,000 and the possibility of additional assistance for the preparation of future investment projects.

The partnership will provide CEDIS with access to EDF Group’s expertise in electricity distribution system management, while the project’s implementation will contribute to improving the reliability and efficiency of Montenegro’s electricity distribution network for the benefit of both citizens and businesses.

The agreements signed today in the fields of healthcare, finance, infrastructure, energy, and strategic communication are the result of the strategic partnership established through the Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the French Republic, signed in 2025.