The Municipality of Ulcinj has returned to the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) the proposed draft agreement on the formation of a joint venture to manage the Saltworks, in another attempt to find solutions to the sophisticated problems that burden Ulcinj's oldest collective.
In Solana, a programmed bankruptcy was introduced in 2005, while the company has been in classical bankruptcy since 2011.
President of the Municipality of Ulcinj Genzi Nimanbeg He told "Vijesti" that the responses from MERS have not yet reached the local authorities.
The government, or rather MERS, and the Municipality of Ulcinj have been unable to agree on positions regarding the formation of a management structure in Solana for some time, which would take over the responsibilities of the National Parks (NP), which have been managing the property for another six months since August.
Nimanbegu said that one of the Municipality's comments on the draft contract, which essentially remained the same, relates to the financing of the future company.
"This is a dilemma that arises and it is necessary to analyze the legal framework, or find an adequate way, so that it is not contrary to the law. Also, the founding capital should be increased so that the company can function. Instead of a supervisory board, a board of directors should be established, because the Law on Business Companies for a two-member company provides for a board, not supervision. As an advisory body to the company, an expert council has been added, composed of experts, government, municipal, NGO sectors, established activists... The company's share can only be transferred between members of the company and it is necessary to define the deadline and method of transfer," it says, among other things, in the suggestions and remarks from Nimanbegu's cabinet.
A major dilemma is highlighted regarding the bankruptcy procedure.
“Does the Government intend to buy out a bankrupt company? Will the Government assume liabilities that may arise from property disputes, if the need arises?”
In August, NP concluded a lease agreement with the bankruptcy administration for another six months. At the time, it was announced that a joint venture between the Government and the Municipality of Ulcinj was expected to be formed during that period, which would manage the property instead of NP.
NPs continuously manage the entire property of the Saltworks based on the Lease Agreement from 2015, which was extended based on annexes concluded with the bankruptcy trustee. All the while, NPs also hire about 20 workers to maintain the pumps and secure the property.
Nimanbegu then said that he had received the Government's proposal to form a joint venture, that he would soon submit comments, and that he believed in an agreement.
It is controversial who will have the majority stake.
As planned, the Municipality of Ulcinj would be a co-owner with the Government in the newly formed company Nature Park "Ulcinj Saltworks", but it is reportedly disputed who will have the larger share.
MERS announced at the end of July that it was unrealistic to expect that in the initial period the Government would agree to anyone other than itself having a majority management stake, considering the fact that it is ready to make very significant investments aimed at protecting and revitalizing the area.
"A draft Agreement on the establishment of a company that will manage this protected area has been formed. The meetings are also attended by the highest diplomatic representatives of the EU Delegation and the Federal Republic of Germany. Therefore, it can be said that the support of international partners is very present and positive, but in order for us to have an agreement, each side must show an adequate level of maturity and good intentions in this regard," the government department headed by "Vijesti" was told at the time. Damjan Ćulafić.
They also stated that negotiations with the Municipality are ongoing and are in the final phase.
"The deadlines are running out, the obligations from Chapter 27 directly related to the Saltworks are numerous (almost 30% of the total number of obligations from the final benchmark related to nature protection directly concern the Ulcinj Saltworks), and specific responsibility for success or failure in resolving this important national challenge, on which our integration into the EU also depends, must simply be defined," MERS stated.
Back in 2021, the Municipality planned to take over the management of the Salt Pans from the National Parks, but gave up because it had not created the legal prerequisites to enter into that business at the time.
After the adoption of the decision at the session of the local parliament on June 24, 2019, Ulcinjska Solana was declared a protected area - Nature Park.
MERS said at the time that the issue of land ownership is not directly related to the lease agreement, but is being resolved through the bankruptcy proceedings of the Solana "Bajo Sekulić" company, which is still ongoing and is under the jurisdiction of other institutions.
"Certainly, whoever owns this area will have to align their activities with the fact that it has been declared a Nature Park, as well as being included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance," the Ministry said at the time.
Today the Ninth International Conference
In the midst of negotiations between the Government and the Municipality of Ulcinj on the formation of a joint venture, the Ninth International Conference on Salt Pan Protection will be held on October 27th at the Science and Technology Park in Podgorica.
It will discuss key problems that have not been resolved for years and as such represent an obstacle to fulfilling the obligations under Chapter 27 for EU accession.
In an invitation letter to participants, the program director of the Center for Bird Research (CZIP) Ksenija Medenica stated that the ownership structure, the issue of its financing, and the issue of ownership have not yet been established.
She emphasized that the obligations under Chapter 27 are largely related to this area, the fulfillment of which determines Montenegro's path in the European integration process.
The conference for the protection of the salt pan is expected to feature speeches from German Ambassador Peter Felten, Jovana Janjušević from CZIP, Medenica, Director of the JPNPCG Marinela Đuretić, Minister of MERS Damjan Ćulafić, Mayor of Ulcinj Municipality Genci Nimanbegu, President of the Committee for European Integration Ivan Vuković, and Protector of Property and Legal Interests of Montenegro Bojana Ćirović.
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