Montenegro's membership in the European Union (EU) will bring better working conditions for fishermen and greater access to European funds, said State Secretary at the Ministry of European Affairs Biljana Papović, stating that membership will give Montenegrin seafood products a ticket to the EU market.
As announced by the Ministry of European Affairs, representatives of several fishing associations and coastal municipalities attended consultations today on negotiating chapter 13 - Fisheries, where they exchanged views with representatives of state institutions and experts on the importance of harmonization with European policy in that area.
Papović recalled that negotiating chapter 13 regulates the area of fisheries and harmonisation with the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
As she said, in order to provisionally close this chapter, Montenegro has fulfilled two final benchmarks, which relate to the improvement of administrative, inspection and control capacities, as well as the harmonization of legislation with the EU acquis.
Papović pointed out that the Government of Montenegro has adopted an Action Plan for strengthening administrative, inspection and control capacities required by the Common Fisheries Policy.
"A lot of important work has been done in the previous period, in order to meet the conditions for the temporary closure of this chapter," Papović stated.
She emphasized that these results are not just technical.
"They are essential for fisheries policy because, in addition to providing a guarantee that citizens will have safe fish on their tables, they also introduce measures to protect the sea and fish stocks, so that there will be enough fish and seafood for future generations," explained Papović.
According to her, with EU membership, Montenegrin marine products gain a ticket to the EU market, with state support for fishermen and joint management of the sea with European partners.
"In addition to all of that, membership will bring better working conditions for fishermen and greater access to EU funds," said Papović.
The Head of the Negotiating Working Group, Katarina Burzanović, emphasized that special emphasis was placed on the legislative framework.
"The Law on Marine Fisheries, the Law on Aquaculture, the Law on Structural Measures and the Granting of State Aid in Fisheries and Aquaculture, as well as the Law on Market Organization in Fisheries and Aquaculture have been adopted," said Burzanović.
These regulations, she said, are largely aligned with EU regulations and foresee the adoption of an extensive set of secondary legislation, which will enable the full implementation of the acquis by 2027.
Burzanović pointed out that, in the area of resource and fleet management, Montenegro has introduced electronic systems for issuing permits and recording catches, and that, in cooperation with the Institute of Marine Biology, resource protection measures and management plans are being defined.
Scientific advisor at the Institute of Marine Biology Aleksandar Joksimović pointed out the importance of a joint plan for managing resources in the Adriatic, and in that context, he emphasized the importance of science's contribution to the process of negotiations and rapprochement with the EU.
"Joining the EU opens up significant opportunities for financial support from European funds, and until then, fishermen must be patient. It is important to further strengthen the fisheries sector so that the position of fishermen in Montenegro is improved," Joksimović pointed out.
As announced by the Ministry, representatives of fishing associations pointed out the daily problems they face, emphasizing that they lack the basic conditions for the work and survival of this industry.
"We have unfair competition in the purchase prices of fishery products and we propose that the state set protective purchase prices below which fishery products cannot be sold. In addition, the problem is poaching and insufficient inspection supervision," emphasized the fishermen's associations.
Representatives of fishing associations particularly highlighted the lack of berths for their boats, especially in the Bay of Kotor.
"We do not have the basic conditions for the survival of fishing. In Boka, we keep our boats at moorings or in some kind of mooring," emphasize the fishermen of Boka.
As announced by the Ministry, fishermen emphasized that, despite the well-aligned Montenegrin legislation with EU legislation, they remain dissatisfied.
"The problem of fishermen must be approached seriously and not just administratively. We will have the sea, but we will not have fishermen," the association concludes.
The Ministry said that the meeting, on behalf of the fishermen's associations, was attended by representatives of the National Association of Fish Producers of Montenegro, the Association of Purse Seine Fishermen of Montenegro, the Association of Professional Fishermen "Sveti Nikola", the NGO "Young Fishermen of Montenegro", the Fishermen's Associations of Ulcinj and Sidro, as well as representatives of the municipalities of Bar and Ulcinj.
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