Novaković on Strategy: The Government's clear answer that it does not need developed NGOs

The 2018-2020 Strategy for the Improvement of the Incentive Environment for the Activities of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) does not reflect the needs of the non-governmental sector in Montenegro, according to the NGO Coalition - Cooperation to the Goal.

The president of the Governing Board of the Coalition, Ana Novaković, said that this is another document "which the Government obviously created only for itself, and for the purposes of stressing its obligations in the process of European integration".

On Thursday, the government adopted the mentioned strategy, and the Minister of Public Administration, Suzana Pribilović, said before the session that the document foresees the reform of volunteerism and the development of the concept of social entrepreneurship. She also said that improving institutional cooperation with NGOs is crucial for them.

Novaković, on the other hand, claims that the Strategy, which should support the development of the non-governmental sector, does not contain any measures to strengthen the capacity of non-governmental organizations.

"It is a clear answer from the government that it does not need developed NGOs," Novaković assessed.

The strategy, according to her, shows that the Government does not want a strong civil society, but the activities are mainly planned to strengthen the capacity of civil servants to cooperate with NGOs.

Novaković stated that the Government avoided defining the policy of allocating owned space and land for the use of NGOs.

The need to regulate this issue adequately, and prescribe clear conditions for the allocation of space and land for NGOs, as she added, was also recognized in the European Commission (EC) Report for Montenegro from 2016.

The attitude of the Government towards the development of the non-governmental sector, as stated by Novaković, is also clearly visible through the financial segment of the document.

Out of a total of 34 activities provided for in the Action Plan, the implementation of 12 activities will be financed from the budget, in the amount of 12 thousand euros.

This document, she said, showed what happens when NGOs do not participate in the process of drafting regulations.