More than a hundred non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Montenegro have changed their statutes since the beginning of the year and, according to unofficial information, a large number of them have added environmental protection to their activities. Several interlocutors told the MINA agency that they have knowledge that a large number of NGOs are changing their statutes and adding activities related to environmental protection and sustainable development, which they connect with the announcement of the opening of Chapter 27, i.e. the announced significant investments in achieving standards in those areas. The Ministry of Public Administration (MJU), which is now in charge of the register of NGOs, said that 5.272 NGOs are currently active in Montenegro, while 4.358 have been deleted from the register. When asked whether in recent months they had an increased number of requests to change the statute of NGOs, i.e. to supplement their activities, the Ministry of Justice said that from January to November, 109 decisions were made to change data related to the statute. They could not say whether the correct information is that several NGOs recently changed their statutes and added the field of environmental protection to their activities, because, as they explained, the transfer of the NGO eRegistrar integrated in the MUP was not carried out due to technical-technological reasons. . "We are not able to answer that question, given that eRegistry, for the previously mentioned reasons, does not currently provide the possibility of creating this type of report," said the Ministry. According to them, basic data on active and deleted NGOs can be found at Open data portal. The executive director of the Ozone Environmental Movement, Aleksandar Perović, said that they had received information that there is a trend of changing the statutes of a significant number of already registered NGOs, which is characterized by the addition of activities related to the areas of environmental protection and sustainable development. As he stated, the first thing that emerges is that the main motive is the announced opening of Chapter 27 in the process of European integration, which monitors the environment and climate change, as well as the frequent mention of the figure of 1,5 billion euros that will need to be allocated by 2030 for achieving standards in those areas. "Well, there is probably room for the financial sustainability of those non-governmental organizations, whose founding motive, in the largest number, is more related to the financial moment and less to principles," specified Perović. He said that environmental NGOs are not worried about such phenomena, which, as he stated, may be a little more pronounced this year. "Because we are sure that a larger offer can only strengthen the capacities and quality of work in the civil sector, of course assuming that it is about NGOs that are independent from the influence of system institutions and interest lobbies," added Perović. As he said, environmental NGOs are recognized for the least mutual envy and vanity, as well as for active, concrete and high-quality participation in the decision-making process and contribution to European integration and the promotion of Montenegro as an ecological state. This, Perović added, was also recognized by the relevant international institutions and regional and international networks of civil society organizations. He believes that many of those NGOs that have added the environment or sustainable development to their activities are not even aware of how complex and multidisciplinary the issues are. "Well, I'm afraid that many of them will only be found in actions to remove illegally dumped waste, which belongs more to communal activities than to what they re-registered for," added Perović. He said that, nevertheless, he appreciates that it is possible to contribute to society in this way, and added that he would be happy to participate in such activities. "I am especially looking forward to the establishment of new ecological NGOs, whose founders are young people, because I am sure that they bring new quality, new views on current affairs and always necessary freshness, which will further strengthen the cooperation of those who recognize the potential and effectiveness of meaningful joint action and actions", concluded Perović.
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