In its latest report on Montenegro, the European Parliament recognized the issue of the vulnerability of Sveti Stefan and Miločer, which non-governmental organizations and civic initiatives from the local community have been warning about for years.
The news was welcomed by the NGO Sveti Stefan naš dom and the Bankada Foundation, which have been fighting to protect them for years.
"However, we are not happy that our gems are mentioned in a negative context in international documents published by the highest European political authorities. This speaks of missed opportunities for timely and responsible protection of one of the most significant cultural and natural landscapes of Montenegro. The situation in Sveti Stefan and Miločer is multi-layered and demanding, and in addition to urban and cultural and historical issues, it also relates to human rights and equal access to cultural assets, as well as respect for international conventions that Montenegro has already ratified. We remind you that the regime of disabled access to Sveti Stefan is contrary to the Faro Convention of the Council of Europe, which guarantees access and participation of citizens in the cultural life of the community," they told "Vijesti"
At the same time, as they point out, Miločerski Park is not yet legally protected as a cultural asset, despite initiatives and formal requests dating back to 2015, and probably even earlier.
"Instead of preserving and conserving historic villas and botanical gardens from the time of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the construction of condominium hotels and other residential buildings is planned in this area, which will permanently devastate the area, changing its authenticity and visual identity. We are grateful to the organizations Europa Nostra from Brussels and the European Investment Bank Institute from Luxembourg, which included the Cultural Landscape of Sveti Stefan among the seven most endangered heritage sites in Europe for 2023, which was the main factor in Sveti Stefan and Miločer being mentioned in the European Parliament report."
They add that despite good examples of cooperation, some relevant state institutions have not recognized the importance of partnerships with international organizations, such as Europa Nostra, which for decades has been "making efforts to protect European cultural and natural heritage." They believe that greater openness and institutional support would bring more concrete results and contribute to avoiding negative international assessments.
“The 2024 technical report by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute, which was created as a result of an expert analysis of the issues of this endangered area, further emphasizes that the cultural landscape of Sveti Stefan is, among other things, partly endangered due to the planned construction of the 'Brajići' wind farm on the Paštrovska Gora site, which the report describes as the 'visual backdrop' of Sveti Stefan and Miločer. This further confirms the need for a strategic approach to the preservation of this wider area. Therefore, we hereby call on the Government of Montenegro to seriously and responsibly approach the issue of protecting Sveti Stefan and Miločer. We believe that one of the possible steps could be the adoption of a special law, lex specialis, which would declare this area a national treasure of Montenegro. Such a law could ensure sustainable management, preservation of the authenticity of the area and community participation, in accordance with public interest and European practices.”
They emphasize that they call for responsible, inclusive and long-term solutions to problems that concern all citizens and emphasize that Sveti Stefan and Miločer are symbols of "our identity, memory and cultural belonging."
"Their protection must become a common priority of institutions, the professional public, the local community and all citizens who believe in the values of the public good and the European future of Montenegro."
Bonus video:
