Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has used Berane’s Municipal Day to pledge continued state investment in northern Montenegro, highlighting what he called a “record number” of joint projects and “record investment” in infrastructure. The most visible symbol is the recently completed €35.7 million reconstruction of the main road connecting Bijelo Polje and Berane, described as the largest road infrastructure project in the country to date. Financed by the European Investment Bank and completed ahead of schedule, the 35 kilometer stretch now serves as the primary access route to the future Bar–Boljare motorway, positioning Berane as what Spajić called “the transport hub of Montenegro’s north east.” Additional projects are already planned, including connections to Rožaje and Andrijevica.
The infrastructure push is part of a broader strategy to develop the north, which has long lagged behind the booming Adriatic coast. According to Montenegro’s tourism strategy, 95% of tourist turnover is concentrated on the coast, with 40% of accommodation in Budva alone. The EU has provided significant support, including a €22.5 million grant for water supply systems and €13.1 million for education projects including a new school in Berane. The European Investment Bank has also financed multiple road projects in the region, with the Berane–Kolašin road alone receiving €25 million in loans since 2013.
Spajić’s rhetoric was notably ambitious, speaking of using “the enormous resource potential of Berane, the north and all of Montenegro, for the benefit of all citizens, and for the pride and reputation of Europe.” He tied infrastructure development to deeper values, invoking the region’s history of “defending freedom, harmony and human dignity.” Yet the gap between rhetoric and reality remains significant. The Air Park Berane airport project has stalled repeatedly, and the EBRD has documented how poor local roads still deter investment and constrain access to markets and services. Despite the new roads, the north still faces a shrinking population, limited private sector activity, and a tourism sector that remains overwhelmingly coastal. Whether Spajić’s vision materializes depends on sustained investment and effective coordination. For now, the rebuilt roads offer something tangible, faster connections, safer travel, and a sense that the north is no longer being ignored. The question is whether that foundation can support the “enormous resource potential” Spajić believes is waiting to be unlocked.
