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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According to the results of the auction, the state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” contracted 99% of the volume of round timber and firewood for the fourth quarter of this year, the press service of the SE reported on Telegram.
“Demand for wood continues to grow. (…) The average price of roundwood rose to UAH 6,800/cubic meter (in the third quarter — UAH 5,700/cubic meter, in the second — UAH 5,400/cubic meter). The average price of firewood for industrial use is UAH 2,300 per cubic meter (in the third quarter — UAH 1,800 per cubic meter, in the second — UAH 1,500 per cubic meter),” the report says.
As noted, the starting prices of the auctions were lower than the sales prices in the third quarter. The state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” tried to restrain price dynamics, but in conditions of free competition, the final prices are determined exclusively by demand.
To increase supply, Lisy Ukrainy put all available resources up for auction (except for firewood for the population, the social sector, and resources for the Armed Forces of Ukraine). A small percentage of products that buyers rejected were immediately put up for additional auction. Products for which there was no demand or which had a high price were put up for Dutch auction to determine the market price.
According to the state-owned enterprise, 1.5 million cubic meters of wood in the second half of the year was supplied to customers under forward contracts at a fixed price, meaning that processors were able to avoid the risk of rising product costs in advance.
In addition, during July-September, timber harvesting consistently exceeded 1 million cubic meters.
“As for increasing harvesting, this issue requires comprehensive solutions, most of which are currently beyond the competence of foresters,” said Forests of Ukraine, adding that the volume of main use logging over the past three years has remained virtually unchanged, within the range of 5.6-5.7 million cubic meters.
The Italian city of Trento will host the Ukro-2025 festival of Ukrainian culture on September 28, UkrInform reports with reference to the Ukrainian Newspaper in Italy.
The event will take place at the Trentino Music Arena in San Vincenzo with the support of the Trento City Council and will be held in parallel with Oktoberfest, uniting cultural traditions of Central Europe and Ukraine.
The festival, founded in Milan in 2015, is being held for the seventh time. Previously Ukro was hosted by the cities of Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Padua, Venice and Bologna.
The program includes concerts by Ukrainian performers, dance and theater groups, craft fair, gastronomic presentations, master classes and charity initiatives. A special element will be the collective artwork DIM-UKRO, created by hundreds of participants.
The organizers expect more than two thousand visitors and emphasize that the festival not only popularizes Ukrainian culture, but also promotes intergenerational dialogue and support for the diaspora.
As of September 22, Ukraine had exported nearly 1.7 million tons of wheat, and there is enough product on the market to cover contracts, which is holding back price growth, but the situation may change in October.
This forecast was announced by the analytical cooperative “Pusk,” created within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council (VAR).
“The indicative price for third-class wheat remains at $212–214 CPT-port. This is due to sufficient product reserves among traders and high supply on the global market, especially from Russia,” its analysts noted.
According to their information, coverage of wheat contracts for November-December will significantly decrease for many market players.
“Contracts for October are already being concluded at a price of $218-220 CPT-port with a potential increase to $223. The main reason is a reduction in stocks and growing uncertainty about the future harvest,” the experts explained.
Climate risks in countries that are major wheat producers will be the leading factor supporting prices.
“In Ukraine, the central and southern regions are suffering from drought, and no significant rainfall is forecast in the near future. Russia is also experiencing a critical moisture deficit, and the pace of sowing is the slowest in the last five years. A similar situation is observed in France, Romania, and Bulgaria, where moisture shortages are threatening winter wheat yields. Given this, there is a threat of a reduction in winter crop areas. Importers, anticipating potential problems with the 2026 harvest, may purchase grain more actively. Therefore, wheat prices may rise significantly in January-March,” Pusk states.
Ukraine has seen a significant increase in imports of fresh and frozen pork. In August 2025, 4.6 thousand tons of meat were imported, which is 48% more than in July, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC).
The association’s analysts noted that in January-August 2025, Ukraine imported 14.9 thousand tons of pork, which is 7.8 times more than in the same period of 2024, the highest figure since 2022.
The largest purchases were observed in July and August, totaling 7.7 thousand tons. In the first two weeks of September, another 3.2 thousand tons were imported. Experts predict that by the end of the year, purchases will reach at least 25,000 tons, with the majority of deliveries occurring in the second half of the year.
The main suppliers of pork to Ukraine are Denmark, Poland, and the Netherlands.
“The main reason for active imports was the reduction of the pig population in winter to 4.5 million heads, mainly in private households. This led to a shortage of supply in the domestic market and an increase in prices,” explained UACB analyst Maxim Gopka.
According to UACB data, in September, purchase prices for live weight of bacon breeds of pigs ranged from 98 to 100 UAH/kg, depending on the region. Since the beginning of the year, prices have risen by 34%, and by 60% on an annual basis.
Analysts noted that there has been a decline in the cost of live pigs in the EU, which makes their markets attractive for Ukrainian purchases. Thus, imports have become an alternative source of raw materials.
It is likely that a reduction in imports will only be possible through a gradual increase in the pig population, which in the long term will also affect domestic purchase prices. According to the State Statistics Service, as of September 1, 2025, there were 4.8 million pigs in Ukraine, which is 5% less than last year but 7% more than in January. Despite an increase of 330,000 head since the beginning of the year, market supply remains limited. The recovery is mainly taking place in the enterprise sector, which currently accounts for 65% of the livestock population, according to the UCAAB.
In terms of total trade volume, Ukraine cooperates most closely with China, Poland, and Germany. These countries form the basis of the state’s foreign economic relations, exerting a critical influence on imports and exports.
China remains the leader with a total trade volume of $8.99 billion. Poland ranks second with $6.04 billion, while Germany and Turkey are almost equal with $4.28 billion and $4.25 billion, respectively. The United States ranks fifth with $2.86 billion.
The top 10 also includes Italy ($2.38 billion), the Czech Republic ($1.64 billion), Bulgaria ($1.54 billion), Hungary ($1.53 billion), and Romania ($1.50 billion).
“The top ten partners form the basis of Ukraine’s foreign trade balance. China and the EU countries account for the largest volumes of trade, but it is important to take into account the significant negative balance in relations with these countries,” said Maksim Urakin, founder of Experts Club and economist.
He added that although the large volume of trade indicates Ukraine’s integration into global supply chains, dependence on imports from China and Europe creates strategic risks.
“Poland and Germany are key hubs for Ukrainian exports, but at the same time they are significant sources of imports. Therefore, it is critically important to balance trade flows, preserving positive sectors such as agriculture and metallurgy, and reducing dependence on critical imports,” Urakin noted.
BULGARIA, CHINA, CZECH REPUBLIC, ECONOMY, EXPERTS CLUB, FOREIGN TRADE, GERMANY, HUNGARY, ITALY, POLAND, ROMANIA, TURKEY, UKRAINE, USA, МАКСИМ УРАКИН
