According to the Serbian Economist, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic said that the country’s migration policy should be revised, emphasizing that the influx of foreigners has made housing and rent unaffordable for Montenegrin citizens. According to him, the real estate market is overloaded, and young Montenegrins are deprived of the opportunity to rent housing and combine study with work, Adria TV reported.
“Because of the large number of foreigners, a square meter of housing has become a luxury, rent has increased many times, and young people who could work, including while studying, have been left without the opportunity to earn for themselves and their families. It’s time to change the approach: first jobs and apartments for our citizens, and then open doors for foreigners,” said Milatovic.
He emphasized that migration policy should be “responsible and fair”, and the priority is to provide housing and jobs for locals and create conditions for the return of those who have gone abroad.
After 2022, Montenegro faced a marked increase in the number of foreigners, which sharply increased housing and rental prices. This was especially felt in Podgorica, Budva and seaside regions.
In the case of stricter rules of stay and rent, foreigners living in Montenegro are likely to look for alternatives in neighboring countries:
– Serbia is the most likely destination. The country is distinguished by its lenient migration legislation, proximity, common language space and developed infrastructure for foreigners. Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis have already become centers of attraction for migrants, especially from Russia, Ukraine and CIS countries.
– Bosnia and Herzegovina is also attractive for migrants because of low housing prices, although it is much less developed in terms of infrastructure and labor market.
– Croatia – as an EU country remains an option, but high real estate prices and visa restrictions make it less accessible.
Thus, the most real “beneficiary” of a possible tightening of migration policy in Montenegro will be Serbia, where large migrant communities have already formed and where the authorities are interested in attracting foreigners to stimulate the economy.
According to the results of the 2023 census, there were 122,744 immigrants in Montenegro, i.e. people who lived outside the country for at least a year and later returned or resettled.
Of these, 35.3% were citizens of foreign countries (≈ 43,268 people).
Among the countries of origin of immigrants:
– Serbia – 45,000 persons;
– Russia – 15,000 persons;
– Germany – 7,000 persons;
– Ukraine – 3,000 persons.
In the municipality of Budva in 2023 among the inhabitants were 14 % of Russians and 4 % of Ukrainians.
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