Kos: EU accession is felt through clean water, a protected coastline and communities that can live from the sea in harmony with nature

A large underwater cleanup campaign in the Bay of Kotor as part of the national environmental campaign "Protect and let it protect you" was successfully implemented today.

The European House announced that the action was organized by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Montenegro, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) and the Eco-Fund, with the support of numerous partners, diving clubs, institutions and volunteers.

It is stated that the action was attended by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and the Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajić, which once again confirmed the joint commitment of the European Union and Montenegro to environmental protection, preservation of the marine ecosystem and promotion of sustainable development.

Kos said that today's underwater cleanup of the Bay of Kotor shows how European integration brings concrete benefits to citizens through a cleaner environment and the preservation of natural resources.

She pointed out that Montenegro is closer to EU membership than ever before, with 16 provisionally closed negotiation chapters, and that environmental protection, especially through Chapter 27, is one of the key steps on that path.

Kos also emphasized that the EU is proud to support such projects, which contribute to marine protection and sustainable development.

"Today we are showing what progress on the European path means in everyday life. Because, although accession to the European Union is built through laws and negotiations, it is felt through clean water, a protected coastline and communities that can live from the sea in harmony with nature," Kos stated.

Spajić said that it is time for Montenegro to confirm its status as an ecological state in practice and that nature protection must be the shared responsibility of everyone.

He pointed out that the underwater cleanup campaign is the largest ever organized in the Bay of Kotor and that it brings together institutions, citizens, volunteers and partners from the European Union in the common goal of preserving one of the most valuable natural and cultural areas in the Mediterranean.

Spajić pointed out the importance of the Bay of Kotor as part of the proposed Natura 2000 ecological network, stating that its preservation is an obligation to future generations.

"In the year when we mark three and a half decades since Montenegro was declared an ecological state, we are finally confirming this status with responsibility towards nature. Let us protect nature so that it will protect us," said Spajić.

The director and one of the founders of the non-governmental organization (NGO) "Ljute Kamenice", Miloš Gezović, said that it was a great honor and pleasure to be in Boka today.

"It is a great honor and pleasure to be here today and to feel this energy, where we are finally all on the same side - all for our coast, for an ecological Montenegro and for a joint contribution to the closure of Chapter 27, which will probably be one of the most demanding and expensive chapters in the EU accession process," said Gezović.

He said that NGOs and the civil sector will do their best to continue this trend in the coming period.

"I believe that the best indicator of our work will be the number of actions implemented, as well as concrete results - the amount of waste removed from the bay and the contribution to the preservation of our coast," Gezović pointed out.

The announcement states that the program began with the gathering of participants in front of the Institute of Marine Biology in Dobrota, where registration, a safety briefing, and a presentation of the campaign's goals were held.

"Following the official opening, teams of divers and volunteers were deployed to multiple locations throughout the Bay of Kotor," the statement said.

As announced, underwater cleaning operations were carried out on the Dobrota waterfront, in front of the Institute of Marine Biology and the Lahor Sailing Club, on the waterfront in the town of Muo, as well as in the protected area around Our Lady of the Rocks.

It is stated that various municipal and bulky waste was removed from the seabed, which was recorded and prepared for adequate disposal after being retrieved.

"In parallel with regular clean-up activities, specialized teams carried out demanding operations to recover sunken objects. A sunken tank in front of the Security Department building was removed from the sea, while wrecks of sunken vehicles were recovered from the seabed between the Verige Strait and the Montefish site, removing part of the long-standing waste that had been a burden on the marine ecosystem," the statement said.

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The European House said that, after the end of the campaign, the organizers presented the results, thanked all participants, partners, divers, volunteers and institutions that contributed to the implementation of this initiative, and announced the continuation of activities within the "Take care, let it take care of you" campaign.

They emphasized that today's action once again showed that through joint action by institutions, international partners, the professional community and citizens, a concrete contribution can be made to the preservation of Montenegro's natural resources.

"The "Protect and Let It Protect You" campaign continues to promote a responsible attitude towards the environment and encourages the active participation of all social actors in protecting nature for future generations," said the European House.

The action was supported by the non-governmental associations Heal Boka Bay, Caritas of the Diocese of Kotor, the Association of Kotor Fishermen and Admirers of Traditional Fishing, Ljute Kamilice, Let's Green Montenegro, Sea Ecology, Montenegro Dolphin Research, Medaur Risan, Montenegrin Society of Ecologists, CZIP, Ecopatriotizam, Optimisti, Zero Waste Montenegro, NGO MSJA – Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association, Expeditio, Čista Gora, Green Adriatic, DVD Montenegro.

The action was also supported by sailing and sports clubs - Adriatic Blue Diving Club, MedCEM - Mediterranean Center For Environmental Monitoring, Boka Diving Academy, Lahor Sailing Club, Montenegrin Sailing Federation, Olympian Milivoj Dukić, Regional Diving Center.

It is stated that the action was also supported by the University of Montenegro - Center for Archaeology (diving team), the Institute of Marine Biology, KotorArt, as well as representatives of the business sector Ecoboats, Montefish.