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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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Montenegro is now an independent country, but economies don't go up by independence only. It's time to go back to business, and what this country can really offer is its beautiful, partly rocky partly sandy seacoast. Given the lack of heavy industry and precious minerals the way this natural treasure is sold out or rented out will determine the economic future of Montenegro. It's obvious that powerful private economic interests are already clashing with public interests of preserving the natural look of this part of the Mediterranean.

Montenegro is a former Yugoslav republic. Together with Croatia it offers most of the former federation Adriatic Sea coast access. Unlike Croatia that split from Belgrade in early 1990s at a cost of a bloody and lengthy war, Montenegro initially joined Milosevic's project of a renewed federation. Many years later it pulled out from his policy of ethnic cleansing and after many years of uneasy confederation it finally proclaimed its independence in 2006. With no heavy industry, high-tech businesses, hyper-skilled professionals or competitive agriculture Montenegro has to find now its unique road of prosperity that will lead its people to their goal, the European Union membership.

The nature is the only real asset Montenegro has to offer in order to attract investments, especially foreign. With Croatian coast increasingly turning into a chain of construction sites people looking for peace and quiet are gradually turning their attention to its immediate southern neighbor and now independent country Montenegro. The prime locations along the seacoast that just 2-3 years ago were sold out at less than 1,000 Euro per sq.meter residential space now tend to reach 3,000 Euro per sq.meter. The demand, especially from small foreign investors, has risen recently several times. Most newcomers come from the British Islands and Russia.

The invasion of money big enough for the local economy to swallow may however turn Montenegro into smaller version of Croatia, which may not seem like a big threat in short-term given the financial bonanza falling over the northern neighbors. In fact however this development is considered among local specialists to be highly unsustainable and thus threatening, example being the falling prices and fleeing tourists from countries like Bulgaria because of the over-construction zeal in several key locations. As far as Montenegro is still more or less a pristine destination it still can attract few but affluent new residents. Once they become too many Montenegro will turn into yet another ordinary destination with all negative consequences on the local infrastructure and ecology.

To make this damaging scenario more unlikely than not the local government has already started introducing a package of new construction regulations. No new housing projects will be allowed to be built if they surpass 4 floors, and no new permit will be granted if the constructions don't respect the predominant local architectural style. The buffer zone of 30 meters along the coast where no construction is allowed without special permits may be deepened to up to 100 meters from the coast. Many illegal buildings along the coast may be demolished at owners' costs.

Montenegro, country profile:

Area: 14,026 sq.km.

Sea coastline: 293.5 kilometers.

Population: 630,000, more than 60% living in urban centers.

Population growth rate: 3.5%.

Ethnic groups: Montenegrins (62%), Muslims (14%), Serbs (10%).

GDP per capita (PPP): $3,800 (2005 est.).

Unemployment rate: 27.7% (2005)

Internet users: 50,000 (2004) Montenegro is proclaimed by its government to be the first ecological state and to be a free economic zone.

(Source: CIA World Factbook 2006, Reuters, Montenet Guide)

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See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Montenegro.