Municipal leaders signed an agreement with representatives of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, on the basis of which significant funds from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) will be made available to them for the implementation of environmental protection projects.
Within the IPA Operational Programme for Environment, the European Commission has allocated €48 million to Montenegro for the fields of environment and climate change. Based on the signed agreement, local governments will be the end beneficiaries of part of these funds, where projects will be implemented aimed at improving waste management systems, enhancing water supply, and strengthening nature protection.
The agreement, signed during a meeting at the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, relates to projects for improving the sewage network and water supply system in the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, upgrading the water supply system in the Municipality of Kolašin, improving water supply in the Municipality of Pljevlja, constructing embankments on the Bojana River, improving waste management systems in all municipalities, as well as enhancing the area of the Ulcinj Solana.
Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities, Mišela Manojlović, expressed satisfaction with the concrete benefits for municipalities and their citizens resulting from meeting the obligations under Chapter 27.
“The Union, as always, provides its members with expert support in preparing these highly demanding projects. I believe that through dialogue and cooperation we will take concrete steps toward achieving our common goals,” said Manojlović.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Ecology and Head of the IPA Operational Programme, Zoran Dabetić, emphasized that the agreement represents another confirmation of continuous and strong cooperation between the state and local levels.
“The Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development continuously, in cooperation with international partners, works on securing financial resources to improve the state of the environment in Montenegro, with a particular focus on municipalities in the north of the country. These projects aim to concretely improve citizens’ living conditions through infrastructure development and sustainable resource management,” said Dabetić.
During the meeting at the Union of Municipalities, the contribution of local governments to meeting the benchmarks from the roadmap for closing negotiation Chapter 27 was discussed. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to adopt local plans for the management of municipal and non-hazardous construction waste by early December this year, in line with the National Waste Management Plan for the period 2025–2029.
State Secretary Nenad Vitomirović, who is also the Head of the Working Group for Chapter 27 and negotiator for Cluster 4, highlighted the importance of aligning national policies with European standards.
“The preparation of local plans is not only a legal obligation but also an important part of the reform agenda. The European Union views this process both through environmental protection and the development of a circular economy,” said Vitomirović, adding that such an approach creates space for sustainable development and new investments.
