Civil society has an irreplaceable role in environmental protection through awareness-raising, policy advocacy and implementation of innovative solutions, and its role will become even more important when Montenegro becomes a member of the European Union (EU), thereby contributing to the fulfillment of European environmental goals.
This was announced at the final conference of the project "Strengthening Civil Society Participation in the Environmental Field in the EU Accession Process (4E)", organized by the Center for Bird Protection and Research (CZIP).
Executive Director of the Center for Bird Protection and Research and representative of Coalition 27, Jovana Janjušević, stressed the importance of EU accession not only as a technical process, but as a key issue for the well-being of citizens and the preservation of natural resources.
"EU accession should not be seen as a homework assignment, but as an opportunity to improve living standards, protect nature, and secure a better future for our families and society," said Janjušević.
According to her, space is the most important resource that Montenegro is losing through irresponsible spatial planning.
"We cannot get back space once lost. The way we are currently treating space is worrying, especially through changes to the spatial plan for Podgorica," she warned, as reported by PR Center.
She pointed out that changes to this plan are being made in a manner that violates formal legal procedures and scientific guidelines, stating that this could have catastrophic consequences for biodiversity.
"The planned changes include megalomaniac energy projects in future Natura 2000 habitats, such as the Ćemovsko polje, which should be protected with Montenegro's accession to the EU."
She pointed out the problem of inadequate waste management, such as the long-standing problem with burning car tires in Ćemovsko polje.
"We are talking about joining the EU, and at the same time we have no solution for tires. In a country that declares itself ecological, this is absolutely unacceptable."
She warned of the loss of bird species, including those protected by European legislation, such as the great skylark and the nightjar.
"Instead of protecting these species, we are planning projects that will destroy them," she said.
Jovana Janjušević said that she hopes that access to EU programs, such as the LIFE program, will enable solving environmental problems and preserving nature.
"Problems like this require funding, and access to EU programs can help us heal what others have damaged before us," she concluded.
Chief Negotiator of Montenegro with the European Union Predrag Zenović He emphasized the importance of joint action by all sectors of society in the process of European integration.
"We are all aware that the obstacles on this path are common and that overcoming them is only possible through dialogue, partnership and transparency," said Zenović.
He pointed out that the role of civil society on this path is "immeasurable".
"It is no coincidence that today the work of smaller organizations operating at the local level is highlighted. They are the backbone of change and the key to achieving concrete results."
He recalled the concrete steps that Montenegro has taken in the past year to improve environmental protection.
"The Forest Law and the Waste Management Law have been adopted, and we can soon expect the adoption of a national waste management plan, as well as a national energy and climate plan."
He also said that work has continued on expanding protected areas, with two new territories already receiving the status of protected natural resources, stating that this shows Montenegro's commitment to preserving natural resources and harmonizing with European standards.
Speaking about key challenges, Zenović singled out the protection of the Ulcinj Salt Pans, an area that has exceptional importance for biodiversity and potential for the development of ecotourism.
"While we are grateful to everyone who has contributed to the protection of the Saltworks, the work is not yet done. It requires strategic planning and serious investment to secure its future."
Zenović believes that citizens must change their paradigm in their relationship with nature, "step away from the anthropocentric vision and understand that nature is not just a resource, but our ally."
"It is key to creating a sustainable future."
State Secretary at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development Zoran Dabetić He stressed the importance of joint action by institutions, the private sector and citizens.
"We are facing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, which directly threaten the health and quality of life of all citizens of Montenegro," said Dabetić.
He pointed out that solving these problems requires the engagement of all sectors, with a special emphasis on civil society.
Dabetić pointed out that the European Commission's 2024 report assesses a certain level of Montenegro's readiness in the field of environmental protection.
"The dynamics that await us in the coming period are extremely demanding, especially in waste management, nature protection and water management."
He assessed that the role of civil society is irreplaceable in raising public awareness, advocating for sustainable policies and taking practical action, recalling that it is a key partner in the process of making strategic decisions and implementing concrete solutions.
Dabetić highlighted several significant achievements made in the previous period, recalling that during 2024, the Ministry invested 150.000 euros in 21 projects implemented by non-governmental organizations throughout Montenegro.
He announced that Montenegro is actively working on joining the European Union's LIFE program, a platform for financing projects in the field of environmental protection and climate action.
"Access to the LIFE program will open up numerous opportunities for innovation, cooperation and concrete actions."
He emphasized that the state has an obligation to provide support to the civil sector, stating that non-governmental organizations must be recognized, as well as local initiatives, as "pillars of our European path."
Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Montenegro Liselot Isakson, stressed the importance of harmonization with the EU acquis in the field of environmental protection and climate change, which includes over 200 key laws.
"This is a big challenge for every candidate country. A strong and focused administration is needed, not only at the central but also at the local level, because most of the changes have to be implemented locally," she said.
He believes that Montenegro must accelerate the fulfillment of the set goals, especially within Chapter 27, which is crucial for the EU accession process.
"Integrating environmental standards into spatial planning can ensure development that is not only in line with EU legislation, but also sustainable and for the benefit of all citizens."
She praised the work of civil society organizations in Montenegro in the field of environmental protection.
"Civil society has an important role, not only in raising awareness and advocating for policies, but also in implementing innovative ideas and policies themselves. Their role will be even more important when Montenegro becomes a member of the EU, as a strong civil society is key to further progress in the field of environmental protection."
Presenting the Shadow Report: The Voice of Nature Reaching Brussels, Executive Director of the NGO Green Home Azra Vuković Presenting the findings for 2024 in the area of horizontal legislation, it concluded that there had been no progress, primarily due to the lack of administrative capacity and inter-institutional coordination.
"When it comes to air quality, the situation remains worrying, and an air quality management strategy has not yet been adopted. Data shows that we are among the countries with the worst air quality in Europe," she said.
She pointed out that progress has been made in the area of waste management, including the adoption of the Law on Waste Management, but that problems such as inadequate waste disposal are still present.
"When it comes to water quality, activities to align with EU directives have continued, but infrastructure problems, such as sewage networks, remain a challenge. In the area of nature protection, we have seen limited progress, while the adoption and implementation of laws are lagging behind. Some plans have been adopted, but many protected areas still lack adequate management."
In the area of industrial pollution and noise, she added, no progress has been made, stating that strategic documents and administrative capacities are lacking.
"When it comes to the area of climate change, key laws and strategies have not yet been adopted. The Low Carbon Development Strategy and the National Energy and Climate Plan are still awaiting finalization. In the area of civil protection, there is a lack of human and technical resources, especially in the municipalities in the north, where the challenges are most serious."
Representative of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development Danka Kazic She said that the working group for conducting negotiations in the field of the environment, in cooperation with the EU, has made significant progress in recent years.
"The Action Plan for Chapter 27, adopted in 2021, precisely defines the obligations we must fulfill. Also, progress reports are submitted to the Government every six months, with a mandatory English translation, so that the European Commission can monitor our progress," she stated.
She reminded that the plan foresees 251 obligations, and the implementation of these obligations is monitored by 25 different institutions.
"So far, we have implemented 122 obligations, which makes up 48 percent of the total implementation, and the remaining obligations are in process. A large number of these obligations are of an ongoing nature, so their implementation is monitored until the chapter is closed. Particularly significant obligations relate to waste management, nature protection and water management, and the deadlines for the implementation of these measures last until 2026."
She recalled that in April 2024, they adopted the Law on Waste Management, the Law on Industrial Emissions, and the Law on Biocidal Products.
"Also, the Law on Forests was adopted in September 2024. In the coming period, we expect the adoption of the Law on Nature, as well as the Law on Climate Change and Protection from its Negative Impacts."
As for strategic documents, she added, they expect the completion of the National Waste Management Plan in 2025, as well as the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the period 2025–2029.
"Closing this chapter by 2026 is an ambitious goal, but with strong political will and efficient resource management, I am confident that it is achievable."
She pointed out that the implementation of these measures requires extensive infrastructure, the adoption of new laws and changes in practices in the areas of waste management, nature protection, air and water quality.
"Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the effective implementation of planned activities, as well as on financial support from the EU and domestic funds. In November 2023, the European Commission adopted a new plan for the Western Balkans, which provides for significant grants and soft loans."
Speaking of the LIFE program, Sanela Metjahic from the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, recalled that the process of joining the LIFE program began more than half a year ago, and that numerous workshops and information sessions were organized with relevant institutions and partners from neighboring countries.
"The LIFE programme is dedicated to environmental objectives, as well as the fight against climate change, and includes four main sub-programmes: nature and biodiversity, circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and coordination and awareness-raising," she said.
She explained that the LIFE programme provides different types of grants for projects, including standard action projects, strategic projects and technical assistance projects.
"For most projects, funding can be up to 60 percent, while for coordination and awareness-raising projects, funds can be obtained up to 90 percent."
She said that, although Montenegro was unable to apply for funds last year, the Ministry of Ecology is actively cooperating with countries already participating in the program, such as Croatia, to prepare projects for the next call.
"Although the procedure may take one to two months after we send our projects to the European Commission, we hope that we will be able to participate and use the funds that will be available to us already this year," she pointed out.
She pointed out that in addition to the LIFE program, the Ministry is in the process of implementing the Action Plan for Nature Protection, as well as the Energy and Climate Plan, which, she stated, will be completed in the first quarter of 2024.
The conference presented a public opinion survey on the environmental awareness of citizens, conducted for 2024 by the NinaMedia company under the guidance of a methodologist Miloš Bešić on a representative sample of 1.000 Montenegrin citizens.
Bešić said that the research findings showed that Montenegrin citizens believe that the situation on the planet in general is much worse than in Montenegro.
"These attitudes were not significantly changed by the 2023 survey, while the number of those who believe that institutions take care of the environment increased slightly from 30 to 43 percent," said Bešić.
He said that the biggest environmental problem, according to citizens, remains waste, especially illegal landfills.
"This problem remains in focus, while citizens have increasingly begun to recognize the human factor as the key cause of pollution."
He pointed out that a significant number of citizens, 78 percent, would be willing to set aside a portion of their income if they were sure that the money would be used for environmental protection, but that there is also a significant number of skeptics who believe that environmental problems are exaggerated.
"The survey showed that citizens mostly support the idea that the economy and ecology can coexist in balance, while a very small number of people believe that the economy should come before environmental protection."
He said that the research showed that, although the majority of citizens, around 85 percent, know what selective waste disposal is, the problem remains the lack of appropriate containers.
"More than 40 percent of respondents said they would start selective waste separation if there were appropriate containers in their neighborhoods."
Bešić said that television and internet portals continue to dominate as the most important sources of information about ecology, while social networks have begun to take on an increasing role.
"The survey showed that citizens rate the environmental culture in Montenegro as unsatisfactory, with 80 percent believing that environmental protection is often abused by politicians."
He pointed out that more than half of respondents said they would regularly participate in actions to improve the quality of the environment, such as cleaning cities and riverbanks.
Presenting projects supported through the grant scheme, a representative of CZIP, Ksenija Medenica presented projects supported through a grant scheme for small civil society organizations, which aimed to improve environmental awareness and solve local environmental problems in accordance with EU environmental standards.
"The aim of the grant scheme was to strengthen civic participation, improve transparency in decision-making and promote environmental activism. In addition, projects included initiatives for waste management, protection of natural resources and improvement of synergies among key actors in addressing environmental challenges," she said.
She indicated that the total fund for the implementation of these projects amounted to 50.000 euros, distributed among eight selected organizations, with amounts between 5.000 and 7.000 euros per project.
"Among the organizations that received support are: Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby (MSJA), MogUL, Zinak, RDA-UBA, Gnijezdo, Nature Lovers, Bringing the Village to Life, and Action for Social Justice. Several of these projects addressed important issues such as environmental protection and sustainable waste management. For example, MSJA implemented a dune protection project on Velika Plaza, while Mogul and RDA worked to connect citizens and institutions for more efficient waste management."
In addition, she added, the projects included educating citizens and young people about the importance of environmental preservation, as was the case with the organization Gnijezdo, which hired green ambassadors in schools.
"The Zinak organization promoted a green circular economy in schools, while the Action for Social Justice worked on harmonizing domestic laws with EU standards. The Da zaživi selo organization dealt with water protection in Pljevlja, while the Ljubitelji prirode organization prepared a Case Study: Komarnica Canyon."
She pointed out that all projects have brought significant results in local communities, although many of them are still in development.
"As a result, positive environmental gains have been made, and organizations have demonstrated the ability to make a significant impact on the local community," she concluded.
The conference was organized within the project "Strengthening Civil Society Participation in the Environmental Field in the EU Accession Process (4E)", funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media.
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