MERS on the development of the Draft Law on Communal Activities: The processes are taking place in accordance with the planned deadlines...

Given that the Government's Work Program plans the drafting of the Bill on Communal Services for the fourth quarter of the current year, all processes are taking place in accordance with the planned deadlines and without delay, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) announced today.

They responded to today's announcement by the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (ZOCG)

Earlier today, the ZOCG called on the Working Group for the Draft Law on Communal Services to intensify its work, in order to reach a new legal solution in this area as soon as possible, which would change the method of determining water prices and thus create conditions for the smooth operation of municipal water supply companies.

The ZOCG said that the draft law was expected at the end of last year.

"Taking into account the concerns expressed by the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro regarding the pace of drafting the Draft Law on Communal Services, with an emphasis on the need to accelerate work on a new legal solution in order to enable changes in the method of setting water prices and ensure the smooth functioning of municipal water supply companies, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) announces the following: In October 2024, MERS formed a Working Group for the Draft Law on Communal Services and initiated activities on its drafting. During the previous period, regular meetings were held, and in the last three months, the pace of work has been further intensified, as meetings and communication among its members take place on a weekly basis," the MERS statement states.

The ministry said that the Working Group includes representatives of the non-governmental sector, the relevant ministry, the Chamber of Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Regulatory Agency for Energy and Regulated Utilities, as well as the Union of Municipalities.

"It is planned that in the upcoming period, during the preparation of the final draft law, we will also include regional experts, whose knowledge and experience will further contribute to the quality of the legal text. Given that the Government's Work Program has planned the drafting of the Draft Law on Communal Activities for the fourth quarter of the current year, all processes are taking place in accordance with the planned deadlines and without delay. All members of the Working Group have been informed of this," the statement states.

MERS said that, understanding the need for reform and problems in utility services, the relevant ministry has prepared a Proposal for a Regulation on Amendments to the Regulation on Detailed Elements and Methodology for Determining the Prices of Utility Services, which will be adopted at the next Government session.