Montenegro is not ready for the opening of Chapter 27 in the negotiations with the European Union (EU) - the environment, and the fact that Montenegro has finalized and handed over its negotiating position to Brussels should not be seen as a great success, reward and job done, it was said. at today's conference "Environment in anticipation of the opening of negotiations for chapter 27".
"On the contrary, the real challenges lie ahead after the opening of the Chapter, which, it is now certain, will not happen before December," said the secretary of Coalition 27, Jelena Marojević Galić.
Therefore, the remaining time must be used as best as possible to improve capacities at all levels in order to welcome the opening as quickly as possible.
Although the opening of the Chapter, according to officials' announcements, was expected in June, it did not happen, and Marojević Galić reminded that, although it was not well received by the line ministries that expressed disagreement, it turned out that the grades from the Shadow Report for the Chapter 27 Coalitions 27 almost identical to those from the Progress Report of the European Commission.
She stated that this refers to the evident lack of administrative and financial capacity, insufficient inspection and prosecution capacity for eco-crime and environmental damage, lack of progress in the field of waste management, but also concern over the significant delay in the protection of the salt pan and the numerous infrastructure plans foreseen in protected and valuable natural areas, such as Porto Skadar Lake and small hydroelectric plants.
Conveying the experiences of Croatia, Željka Leljak Gracin from the local Green Action office said that while the country was in the pre-accession period, it only received warnings on paper.
"Now that we are in the EU, along with warnings, fines also come. The EU will charge for everything you did not do or were late, especially in the area of waste and water. Proceedings are already underway against Croatia and it will cost the country a lot," she said.
When asked why only seven of the 28 EU members confirmed Montenegro's negotiating position, she said that this is a reflection of EU policy and that the negotiation process will drag on.
The director of the NGO "Ozone" Aleksandar Perović said that Montenegro is not ready for the opening of the Chapter, because the environmental situation is bad.
"Although it was expected, we did not receive the opening of the Chapter. The next Intergovernmental Commission is in December. Our institutions now, apart from that administrative part, have to show concrete actions on the ground. It would be bad to lose another half year and not use that period to build some infrastructure. It wouldn't be bad at all to delay the opening for another half a year, if that year was used to make some concrete moves. We shouldn't let the institutions enjoy the glory because they brought out that administrative part, but we should put pressure to do more concretely work, so that in three or five years citizens do not end up in a situation where they pay for bad negotiations through penalties. We must create a situation where the rules of the market battle will be conducted in accordance with the laws, and not in accordance with personal acquaintances and interest groups," he said. is Perovic.
Janjušević: Minister Radulović broke his promise for Solana
The director of the Center for the Protection and Study of Birds, Jovana Janjušević, said that the funds that the state invests in solving ecological problems are "weak", and that the penalties for polluting the environment are few and inadequate, because only the civil sector files reports against those who endanger the environment. .
"The international protection of certain areas in Montenegro does not mean much, because in some emerald habitats you can get a concession for cutting forests, such as in Zeletin or the 'Piva' approach park," said Janjušević.
She reminded that not even a month after the public promise of the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Pavle Radulović, Solana was not protected, nor was the study on protection submitted to the Municipality of Ulcinj.
She said, as he promised in front of foreign ambassadors and EU representatives at the Solana Conference in April.
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