As of the end of 21 August, 103 companies and entrepreneurs in Montenegro had their accounts blocked due to unpaid debts totalling €1.52bn — double the amount from the end of 2020. In that period, the number of blocked entities increased by over 2,200, and the total debt rose by nearly €750m.
Most of the debt (97.7%) comes from businesses whose accounts have been continuously blocked for over a year. A small number of large debtors are responsible for a significant portion: the top 10 blocked companies account for €534.6m (35.2% of the total), and the top 50 account for over €822m (54.15%).
Economic experts and politicians warn that poor liquidity, slow bankruptcy procedures, and a lack of supportive economic measures are major challenges. Proposals include tax reforms, support for small businesses, better enforcement of payment deadlines, and the creation of a state development bank to stimulate neglected sectors.
