The spatial plan can contribute to the reform of the entire system in all areas and will determine the development of the Montenegrin economy in the next 20 years, it was said at the final round table organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property.
Taking into account that spatial planning is one of the key instruments for establishing a long-term and sustainable framework for social, territorial and economic development, the round table was an opportunity to present basic recommendations and suggestions to all relevant subjects at the level of decision-makers, economy and science. obtained during the three-month presentation of this, after the Constitution, the most important document in the country.
The president of PKCG, Nina Drakić, said that the Chamber of Commerce is aware that space is one of the most important resources of Montenegro, partly because we have little and less of it, and partly because its use has not always been the most rational.
That is why the Chamber actively participated in the creation of the Law on Spatial Planning and Construction of Buildings, and businessmen recognized very well the importance of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro.
"This is a document that will certainly determine the development of the Montenegrin economy in the next 20 years, and this topic was given full attention in the Chamber of Commerce," said Drakić.
She added that in the Chamber, in cooperation with the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, and the team for the preparation of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro, six public hearings were held on the boards of the association, which were attended by hundreds of businessmen.
The presidents and members of the board, each from the point of view of the part of the economy they represent, gave a significant number of suggestions for the improvement of this planning document, which we will submit to the Ministry and the processor.
"Businessmen, pointing out the barriers in business due to planning documentation and the absence of urban technical conditions for expanding their capacities, clearly stated that the Spatial Plan can contribute to the reform of the entire system in all areas," said Drakić.
Subliming the messages from the thematic sessions of the OU, Drakić said, among other things, that businessmen encourage efforts to start as soon as possible to continue the construction of highways and solving traffic junctions, because the availability of economic capacities of Montenegro in all branches directly affects economic development.
Businessmen believe that it is necessary to integrate the Port of Bar into a unique system and pan-European corridors. At the level of spatial plans, there should be a clear position for telecommunications infrastructure and it should be linked to the construction of roads.
It is also necessary to properly plan facilities for portable energy infrastructure and preserve all areas where mineral raw materials have been detected so that they remain available to future generations, as well as that fossil fuels should have a more significant position in the Spatial Plan, which should also include storage infrastructure fuel.
Businessmen welcome the announced adoption of a new law on agricultural land that will protect this valuable resource from being converted into construction land. They also insist that the Spatial Plan provides guidelines to clearly define industrial zones in certain municipalities, as well as more free duty-free zones, in lower-order plans.
"The message from the economy is that defining integral waste management systems must be a strategic priority, and that it is necessary to develop a recycling policy, strengthen environmental awareness through various activities and education, and introduce a stronger criminal policy," said Drakić.
According to the State Secretary of the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, Majda Adžović, the Spatial Plan is the cornerstone of the further development of Montenegro, providing a clear roadmap for its organization and arrangement.
"The spatial plan is a commitment to our future generations, made with careful consideration of economic, social economic and cultural factors. He sets ambitious but achievable goals for the spatial development of Montenegro until 2040. By providing a comprehensive framework for sustainable growth, it ensures that our assets are used in a balanced and responsible manner," said Adžović.
She pointed out that the public hearings on this issue will last until April 29, and that in the ones implemented so far, about 260 suggestions have been received on this important document.
"A spatial plan is not just drawing lines on a map, but dealing with real challenges that affect the daily life of citizens, from improving traffic connections to promoting sustainable agriculture, from fighting against illegal construction to improving public spaces. Adopting a spatial plan is not only a legal obligation, but becomes a moral imperative," said Adžović.
The President of the Committee for Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning of the Assembly, Dejan Đurović, said that this committee gave its maximum when it comes to the preparation of the plan.
"We insisted on the inclusion of all actors who should implement all received proposals and suggestions in the plan, which was transparent from the very beginning and represents the most important document after the Constitution," said Đurović.
According to him, this plan will determine the development strategy of Montenegro in the next 20 years, and businessmen and all relevant stakeholders in the development of Montenegro should be involved in order to contribute to its full implementation.
"Until now, the development of Montenegro was divided into three parts: the south, the north and the middle part. Now I want to believe in equal development in all parts, but before this plan is adopted, it is necessary to adopt the law on spatial planning, the law on construction of buildings and the law on legalization", said Đurović.
Đurović believes that traffic infrastructure is something that should be a key point of this plan, and that it is necessary to finish the second part of the highway as soon as possible, but also to use the potential of Port Bar, which represents the central node of Montenegro, when it comes to maritime traffic.
"I am asking for the support of all of you in the work on the spatial plan of our country. I expect other ministries to get involved when it comes to this plan, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North, which is binding in this period ahead of us," said Đurović.
As he states, it is also necessary to adopt the National Energy and Climate Plan, which will define the future position of coal mines and thermal power plants in these plans.
"We have a historic opportunity to build a better future for our citizens, that's why we must all contribute fully to the finalization of this spatial plan," said Đurović.
The President of the Management Board of the Association of Municipalities and the President of the Municipality of Bar, Dušan Raičević, points out that this meeting is also the realization of the signed memorandum on cooperation between his association and the Chamber of Commerce.
"We are in a position to put an end to the natural development of Montenegro and create the conditions for the much-needed strategic spatial planning. The spatial plan is the most important document after the Constitution", said Raičević.
According to him, it is necessary for the Plan to clearly define the boundaries of special areas - the boundaries between special purpose zones, national parks and buffer zones.
"With this spatial plan, a clear definition of the development of traffic infrastructure should be established, and the route of the highway should be defined to go to the Port of Bar so that it is not left out," Raičević said.
The representative of the Community of Municipalities believes that after the adoption of the Spatial Plan, it is necessary to revise all lower level plans and, among other things, adopt a special purpose plan for Lake Skadar.
"It is necessary to create clear assumptions for creating new development strategies. This is the need of all municipalities, the economy and future generations," Raičević said.
The head of the Working Team for the preparation of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro, Svetlana Jovanović, thanked everyone for their great support, which was crucial for further strategic decisions in the plan and its adoption, which is expected by the end of the year.
According to her, one of the most important goals of the Spatial Plan is balanced regional development, stronger connection of the northern region with the central and coastal regions, sustainable use of natural resources, development of infrastructure, especially traffic as a prerequisite for faster development of economic activities and valorization of potential in the northern region.
She emphasized the need to improve agriculture and preserve, protect and sustainably manage forests, connect the agriculture sector with tourism, preserve the countryside and plan to stop very pronounced negative demographic trends in the Northern region of the country.
Tomo Čelebić from the Čelebić Group agrees with the assessments that the Spatial Plan determines the future development of our country.
He believes that it is necessary to precisely define the entry and exit points of the Adriatic-Ionian highway and to foresee that this road goes through Vilus and Božaj, because there is no development of high tourism on the coast if transit roads pass there.
Also, he advocates for the strengthening of railway traffic in order to valorize the potential of the port of Bar, and for the formation of agricultural complexes that would be given free of charge to farmers and better utilization of hydro potential in energy.
Professor Zarija Pejović from the University of the Mediterranean emphasized the necessity of suppressing illegal construction and reindustrialization of cities, especially in the north of the country. In response to his discussion, representatives of decision-makers pointed out that the lack of planning documentation and an insufficient number of inspectors are key challenges in solving this issue.
Šemso Kalač from the University of Donja Gorica believes that better traffic connections between Rožaj and the surrounding area, connection to the highway and the construction of railway infrastructure are necessary.
The adviser to the President of Montenegro for regional development, Aleksandar Stijović, sees great development potential in rail transport, and that it is necessary to connect the Port of Bar and the airports with this infrastructure.
He believes that in terms of traffic, it would be a good solution for the Montenegrin coast to build a tunnel through Lovćen, seven kilometers long, which would connect Cetinje with the sea.
Dragan Marković, a member of the Working Team for the creation of the Spatial Plan, assessed that planned and irrational construction is more dangerous in Montenegro than non-planned construction.
He believes that the new system of spatial planning should limit the construction of apartments for the market because it is robbing the potential of agricultural land, and it brings growth without development.
Members of the Working Team for the Spatial Plan, Siniša Topalović and Matko Marohnić pointed out that the diversification of tourist infrastructure is key to the development of the north.
They stated that this region must be viewed as a year-round tourist destination, with new contents and innovative types of accommodation characteristic of rural and less developed areas, all in order to increase the competitiveness of Montenegrin tourism.
According to them, the spatial plan is part of the solution for starting a new investment cycle in Montenegro, and the whole should be found through the national tourism development strategy and operational plans that will open up space for further investment.
At the end of the round table, a message was sent to the decision-makers to continue with the accelerated work on establishing and adopting proposals for the Spatial Plan, so that it would be possible to continue with the preparation of the next planning document and the creation of formal and legal conditions for the issuance of urban planning and technical conditions, thereby creating the basis for investment and development of the economy of Montenegro.
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