MPs have completed their debate in parliament on the Proposal for a Decision on the Adoption of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2040. They will vote on the issue at a later date.
The Government adopted the Spatial Plan at its session on June 12th, and it serves as a strategic document for the spatial planning of Montenegro, planning its development, use, planning and protection until 2040.
The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) has requested that the Spatial Plan be withdrawn, as the public debate ended in the summer of last year, while the Velje Brdo project was presented in September 2024, and at the beginning of this year, investments from the United Arab Emirates were also presented. They stated that there is a big difference between the Draft that was at the public debate and what is in parliament...
Their MP Nikola Milović added that the document has been in development since 2019, that it has been plagued by many problems, and that the discussion is focused on several non-existent projects. He announced that DPS will not vote for this document.
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The same request for withdrawal came from the Social Democrats, and they also asked whether a plan had been developed for earthquake protection in the future Velje brdo and Buljarica projects.
Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property Slaven Radunović stressed that Buljarica and Velika plaza were in the master plan, and that there had been no changes. He added that the potential of the hinterland locations should not be left unused.
The head of the Spatial Plan development, Svetlana Jovanović, stated that they were analyzing previous goals and that no major progress had been made compared to previous plans. She pointed out that all comments submitted at the public hearing had already been answered, and that the goal was sustainable development, progress in transport infrastructure, improvement of waste disposal...
"In the discussions we hear these days, the planning and strategic level and the detailed level on the basis of which the conditions for someone to build, anywhere, be it Velika plaza, Jelovica, in Pljevlja or anywhere, are simply not understood. What we heard, as an expert team and I as a manager - I cannot accept. If this plan were implemented at least 70 percent, we would be a truly developed Montenegro...", emphasized Jovanović.
Which zones are protected?
Civic Movement URA MP Ana Novaković Đurović stressed that the issue of the Spatial Plan was raised from a dead end during the Dritan Abazović government, and that it does not matter who will adopt the document. She asked why the efforts of the expert team are being nullified through speed and urgency and the adoption of the plan outside the procedures.
"Do ministers know what the content of the Environmental Protection Agency's report is? I know that consent to the report is not an obligation for adopting a plan, but it is an obligation to familiarize yourself with it. Why did you hire the Agency to draft a 600-700 page report, and if consent arrives, it arrives," she said.
Novaković Đurović added that the housing policy section mentions a solution through the Velje brdo project, and that it is not explained on what basis this idea was included in the plan because there are no criteria. She pointed out that construction must be reduced based on earthquake risk, but that this is not happening.
"I am familiar with the position that the hydroelectric power plant on Komarnica should be built and that the Government has included it in a single list of energy projects. An alternative to the Thermal Power Plant should be included in this document, so it should be included in the Spatial Plan," said Novaković Đurović, adding that it is not clear which protected zones of state space will be.
Will reduce the capacity of Komarnica
Radunović stressed that they have accepted the obligation to adopt the Spatial Plan by the end of June, and that Montenegro will receive 2,3 million euros if the document is adopted by June 30. He explained that the adoption procedure is carried out in the Parliament and not in the Government, with the consent of the Agency, which they have. He stressed that everything is in accordance with the law.
"You were the first to laugh, there will be no Velje Brdo, now you see that there will be a settlement there. And now you are moving on to another type of criticism, you probably didn't expect that the Spatial Plan would regulate Velje Brdo, that is done through spatial and urban plans. The Podgorica Urban Development Plan will be adopted soon. The first phase is planned to be approximately the size of two blocks V...", Radunović emphasized.
He said about Komarnica that it is necessary and that the river will have a reduced capacity, in order to create a balance in the energy system. Jovanović pointed out that the draft plan has been improved and that nothing new has been included, because that would require a new public debate. DPS MPs emphasized that the Buljarica area for construction has been changed compared to the draft, as have the routes of highways and other projects.
Novaković Đurović stated that the plan was discussed and adopted without a strategic environmental impact assessment report, while Radunović previously called it petty talk. Novaković Đurović claims that the document was needed for adoption by the Government, and that Velje Brdo is still being planned without plans.
The New Serbian Democracy emphasized that they hope that the plan will be adopted, that those who do not wish Montenegro well will be against it, and that this plan will succeed the one from 2010. As they claim, that plan has so far strategically and visionarily mistreated the country, and that the public debate for the current one lasted three months instead of the planned 30 days.
"I expect the Law on the Legalization of Buildings to be passed this year, in which we will see the results of improper construction, without control, but from election to election, construction is allowed. The result will be very difficult when we get the latest information on the number of illegal buildings... I expect to finish it this year," said MP Dejan Đurović.
Unattainable goals
The Social Democrats pointed out that the plan contains many unachievable goals, and that it is not clear why they were included in the document. They also said that the plan contains many wishes and obligations, due to the large number of planned highways, airports...
The Democrats stated that they do not want the plan to remain just a text, but to be a living document. They emphasized that they want sustainable development and economic growth, and believe that the Montenegrin space can be a space of development by 2040. They announced that they would support this document.
The DPS pointed out that direct answers have not been received to key questions, and that they cannot build 623 meters of highway and ordinary roads, not 623 kilometers of highways and expressways. They claim that the discussion took place within a non-transparent process and that the politics of the current majority interfered with the plan, which is why they are asking for a new public discussion because Velje Brdo was only presented later.
"Who trusts the government that is proposing this to us? Where are the results? What is most worrying is the Velji Brdo project, it creates the assumption that people from the north are moving to Podgorica, instead of staying in the north. It would be best to offer a plan that is realistic and sustainable, you have offered something that is populist, political desires and citizens will not benefit from this document...", said their MP Nikola Rakočević.
Jovanović emphasized that municipalities also want a state housing fund and that such a measure was included at their suggestion.
Independent MP Radinka Ćinćur added that construction in Buljarica was not discussed, while construction in Komarnica violates EU directives on water, animals and plants.
The Bosniak Party announced that they will support the Spatial Plan and that they hope to implement it to the greatest extent possible.
Radunović added that the plan should be the basis for a series of new PUPs, and that he believes that everyone will be more satisfied as time goes by. He claims that the Government is working hard, that the number of electronic sessions is greater, but with it the efficiency of work.
The Europe Now Movement emphasized that the public discussions in the municipalities were good and detailed, and that they will support the Spatial Plan.
The agenda of this session includes, among other things, changes to the budget for this year, i.e. the rebalance due to the formation of the ministries of public works and energy and mining, amendments to the Law on Public Gatherings and Public Events, on Maritime Domain, Ports and Construction of Facilities...
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