The Government of Montenegro will waive part of the revenue from legalization fees in northern municipalities, so these local governments will receive the full amount instead of 80 percent - which the remaining ones will receive.
This was stated by the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, Slaven Radunović, at the session of the Parliament, which concluded the debate on the Bill on the Legalization of Illegal Structures and Construction of Structures. The MPs will vote on these laws at a later date.
Radunović stressed that it would be decided later whether Žabljak would be on that list, due to the huge number of illegally built buildings in that municipality. He was asked about the waiver of part of the government's revenue by Bosniak Party MP Mirsad Nurković, after which it was decided to include that measure as an amendment to the Law.
Radunović added that the legalization process will bring in revenues of 300 million euros, based on fees for the legalization of illegal structures, and that municipalities in the north will receive the entire amount, while other municipalities will receive 80 percent of the fee.
Hotels, he says, will have to pay serious fees. Radunović stated that this Law introduces order into the illegal construction sector, that there are more than 100.000 illegal buildings, and that so far, out of 61.647 submitted requests for legalization, 3.39 thousand decisions have been made.
"The draft law brings several innovations, the competent local government bodies will legalize buildings with a net area of up to 500 square meters, while the Administration for the Legalization of Illegal Buildings will do the same for buildings over 500 square meters and for buildings in protected zones. The Administration will be a newly formed administrative body that will be established by the Government, and its work will be fixed for five years, as will the validity of the law," he said, adding that the Administration will be established within four months.
He pointed out that citizens with illegal buildings will be able to submit a request within six months of the adoption of the law. Radunović added that the legalization process will bring in 300 million euros in revenue from fees for the legalization of illegal buildings, and that municipalities in the north will receive the entire amount, while other municipalities will receive 80 percent of the fee.
He pointed out that it is still being decided whether Žabljak will be on that list, due to the huge number of illegally built structures in that municipality.
Amandman sprema i DPS
Milović said that the parliamentary group will submit an amendment regarding the age of buildings in order to reduce the compensation for those living in illegally built buildings. He stressed that he hopes for zero tolerance for illegal construction and that a distinction must be made between those who did it for profit and those who built out of necessity.
"We need to meet the needs of those who did it on their land, but were unable to do it because of the plans. We are putting something that is illegal into legal channels and it represents an amnesty for illegal construction... This Law discriminates against citizens who built legally," said Milović, adding that they are now on an equal footing with those who violated the Law.
He added that he hopes for control and accountability of those who will implement the Law.
Milović stated that the largest number of illegal buildings was built in the last seven years, and that the system is giving in to illegals, so he appealed that this construction must be punished and stopped in the future.
Europe Now Movement (PES) MP Nađa Laković pointed out that this sector is one of the most problematic in Montenegro, and that so far there has been illegal construction, falsification in cadastres, corruption, theft of materials...
"Buildings built through fraud and bribery must not be legalized, buildings that block roads, those on the coast, state land and beaches, must not be legalized. For new illegal constructions, zero tolerance and immediate demolition...", she emphasized and called on citizens to report all irregularities.
"Nobody's house is legal"
Radunović emphasized that for a long time, votes were bought and social peace was maintained through illegal construction, that there will no longer be construction against the law, regardless of who leads the country, that those who illegally connect buildings to water and electricity will go to prison, and that they will be able to check construction throughout the territory through satellite imagery.
He also pointed out that "No Man's House" in Podgorica is legal, that he expects the unanimous adoption of the Law and that citizens respect it.
Social Democrat MP Branislav Nenezić said that all Secretariats in municipalities will have to have ten times more employees in order to achieve the measures planned by this Law, and that the fact that everything will depend on urban plans will also cause problems.
New Serbian Democracy MP Dejan Đurović added that he believes this is a historic moment for Montenegro, because citizens will have the chance to legalize buildings and that there are so many illegal ones that they cannot be accurately counted. He pointed out that there will also be problems with buildings on state land, and that care should be taken to avoid corruption.
"Social benefits are a contribution and a step forward in terms of compensation, because there are a large number of illegal structures of households that have built a roof over their heads, and such structures should be legalized as soon as possible. I expect all parliamentary groups to be united at this moment because this is a gain for Montenegro, and Montenegro is completing the planning documentation...", said Đurović.
The Democrats said that the Law is important and necessary for Montenegro, and that they believe that citizens will be satisfied. They believe that it recognizes the socially vulnerable, pensioners, hotels that were built in violation of the law, and that it is important for municipalities to spend the money they have earned on urban planning of settlements.
The Bosniak Party stated that they would support amendments to the Law on Construction of Buildings, and that it harmonizes Montenegrin legislation with the EU in recognizing domestic qualifications for architects.
Member of the Croatian Civic Initiative Adrian Vuksanovic stressed that they hope that this Law will curb this construction and stop the devastation of the area, especially the Bay of Kotor. They announced their support for this Law.
The deputies have completed the debate on the Railway Act, and will make a statement on the issue at a later date.
Minister of Transport Maja Vukićević emphasized that the Railway Law is moving towards closing Chapter 14 (transport policy) and that it will form the Railway Agency, which will succeed the Railway Administration and become the new railway market regulator and an independent body that will further harmonize the sector with European Union legislation.
"We inherited a system that is outdated, but I don't want to dwell too much on what was in the past, we need to turn to the future and make that system better. 80 million was signed to improve the railway infrastructure, by the end of the year I expect that, like the contract for the highway project, we will sign a contract for the railway reconstruction project. The development of the main project is going a little slower, I am not satisfied with the dynamics myself, but it is a company that was selected before my arrival, we are doing everything to speed it up a little...", Vukićević pointed out, adding that they also managed to meet the criteria from Chapter 21.
Asked about the Lepenac-Ribarevine road and the problems it is causing to those in the north because it is not finished, Vukićević stated that her patience regarding the project is running out. She points out that the project is blocked because of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, which had to carry out a sidewalk and lighting project and relocate the asbestos-cement water supply system in Ravna Rijeka.
She added that one of those projects was negatively reviewed and they could not relocate the water supply, and that the Municipality informed them that they should continue the work even though, as she claims, they know they cannot do it without that part of the project.
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