Montenegro and Croatia signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental protection.
"Montenegro is fully committed to preserving the environment, improving and expanding the system of protected natural resources, and respecting and consistently implementing all international standards in this area. Cooperation with Croatia will contribute to the application of good practices and experiences from the region, especially from the aspect of membership in the European Union and the obligations that lie ahead of us," said the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Branimir Gvozdenović, on the occasion of the signing of the Agreement.
The Minister of Environment and Nature Protection, Mihael Zmajlović, pointed out that Croatia and Montenegro are connected by natural roads due to their proximity and geographical location.
"The protection of our part of the sea is inseparable from the protection of the entire Adriatic. The protection of the air, land, plant and animal life can only be achieved through joint measures. With this agreement, we ensure more efficient joint action with the aim of protecting the environment and growth based on the principles of sustainability and increasing the quality of life of citizens Zmajlović said.
Montenegro and Croatia, as announced by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, have been cooperating for a number of years within the framework of regional and multilateral forums, as well as through the transfer of Croatian experiences from the process of accession to the European Union.
With this Agreement, the two states, as it is added, commit to cooperation in the field of sea and undersea protection, coastal area management, ballast water, waste, air and climate protection, cross-border prevention of water pollution and maritime traffic.
The states will also cooperate on issues of general environmental protection policy, the process of rapprochement and accession to the European Union, access to environmental information, as well as education in the field of environmental protection and public cooperation through joint projects, exchange of experts and information.
The agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental protection will contribute to the realization of specific projects aimed at environmental protection and development, based on the principles of sustainability, especially through the preparation of joint projects for the use of international and European Union funds.
"Croatia, through the process of joining the European Union, implemented the knowledge and experience of the best European practices, and today it asserts itself as an intermediary in the transfer of those experiences to neighboring countries that are on the path that Croatia has taken. Minister Zmajlović emphasized that he believes that the experience gained by Croatia will in the accession negotiations, greatly help and facilitate the work that is before Montenegro, in order to harmonize their legislation and take over joint policies in environmental protection," the announcement states.
Gvozdenović, together with his colleagues, also met with the Minister of Construction and Spatial Planning, Anko Mrak Taritaš.
During the conversation, mutual experiences and practices in the field of construction and planning were exchanged, and satisfaction was expressed with the progress of Montenegro and Croatia in this year's Doing Business report of the World Bank. The fact that the reform carried out in the area of issuing construction permits in both countries is the most responsible for the progress on the Doing Business list was particularly highlighted.
A special topic of discussion was the legalization of illegal facilities in Croatia, in light of the application of similar experiences for the process of regularization of informal facilities in Montenegro, which will follow in the coming period.
"The interlocutors agreed on the need to intensify joint activities and cooperation in order to attract investors. Minister Gvozdenović expressed his satisfaction with the investment environment in Montenegro, with the assessment that in the coming period, work will continue to increase the transparency and efficiency of procedures. Gvozdenović's visit to Croatia continues with participation in the Third Fair of Investment Projects in the Adriatic Region, as well as a meeting with the management of the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development," the announcement concludes.
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