Energy Deal With the UAE Under Constitutional Review: Government and Parliament Silent for Almost Six Months

Even after almost six months, Montenegro’s Government and Parliament have not submitted to the Constitutional Court their opinions on the initiative challenging the constitutionality of the Law confirming the energy agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Constitutional Court told “Vijesti” that at the moment it is not possible to specify when the case will be heard.

The court received on April 1 of this year the initiative of Budva Assembly councilor and leader of the civic group “Pokret za grad”, Đorđe Zenović, to launch proceedings assessing the law’s constitutionality. On April 9 the court forwarded the initiative to Parliament and the Government for a response; no opinions have arrived to date. However, their absence is not a procedural obstacle for the court to continue the proceedings and decide. The case has been assigned to a reporting judge and a constitutional-judicial advisor.

The law was adopted in Parliament at the end of February, after the Agreement on cooperation in the field of energy between the governments of the two countries was signed in November last year. The agreement establishes a strategic partnership in developing renewable energy sources, modern energy infrastructure, and advanced technologies.

Under the agreement, the Montenegrin side is obliged to secure the necessary land for projects in the so-called development zones, where permitted by law, without concession, tender, or public procurement procedures. The state will take over the construction of public infrastructure and the preparation of planning documentation, in cooperation with the designated UAE body or their joint venture. The joint projects include solar, wind and hydroelectric plants, hybrid solar/wind solutions, battery plants, as well as the modernization of energy infrastructure.

The agreement will be valid for five years and will renew automatically in successive five-year periods, unless terminated. Each party has the right to terminate it at any time with written notice through diplomatic channels; the agreement ceases to be in force six months from the day the notice is received.

Source: Vijesti