Secretary of the Committee for Public Utilities and Environmental Protection of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro Sanja Živkovićuparticipated in the 11th session of the Green Parliamentary Group, held to mark the 35th anniversary of Montenegro’s declaration as an ecological state, on the topic “Achievements, Challenges and Prospects 35 Years after the Adoption of the Declaration on Montenegro as an Ecological State.”
Speaking about the Union of Municipalities’ new activities, she presented the preparation of a Feasibility Study exploring the possibilities of linking four areas. The ultimate objective of the Study is to promote the sustainable management of resources in Montenegro and steer local policies in a direction that will make the country more competitive in the EU market.
The Study will provide guidelines for the authorities responsible for preparing planning documents, with a view to ensuring adequate protection of areas identified as important environmental resources for the development of health tourism. At the same time, local self-governments will be provided with recommendations for integrating these potentials into green local development policies, with the aim of branding them as BIO-ECO destinations.
“In this way, we aim to link tourism, as one of Montenegro’s most important export-oriented economic sectors, with sustainable and environmentally responsible development, while encouraging local economic activities to shift towards greener business models. We expect the Study to be completed within the next month, after which, in cooperation with our member municipalities, we will work on implementing its recommendations and guidelines,” Živković said.
Živković emphasized that the central government plays a key role in policy-making and in supporting local self-governments in the implementation of infrastructure projects aimed at improving and protecting the environment.
“Over the past 35 years, significant progress has been made in areas under the responsibility of local self-government units, particularly in the development of municipal infrastructure for wastewater and waste management. However, in addition to infrastructure and legislation, our society needs greater environmental awareness and a more responsible attitude towards public spaces, which are a common good shared by all citizens,” Živković said.
She warned that the results achieved by municipalities and their public utility companies are often overshadowed by the irresponsible behaviour of individuals, particularly when it comes to the creation of illegal waste disposal sites.
“An illegal dumpsite is often more visible than all the efforts made every day to collect municipal waste, install waste containers, introduce underground containers and establish systems for separate waste collection. Therefore, alongside further infrastructure development, it is essential to strengthen inspection oversight and the accountability of all stakeholders,” Živković stated.
According to Živković, local self-governments have so far had limited capacities to conduct inspection oversight of improper waste disposal. The establishment of a state-level municipal inspection service, envisaged by the amendments to the Law on Waste Management, is expected to contribute to more effective enforcement and better protection of public spaces.
Živković also pointed to the insufficient financial and human resources available to municipalities for the implementation of complex environmental protection projects. For this reason, support from the central government is particularly important, whether through the capital budget or European Union funds.
Under the IPA III financial framework, around 40 projects are being implemented at the local level, while approximately EUR 10 million in grant funding has been secured with the support of central government authorities. These projects are making a significant contribution to improving environmental conditions in local communities.
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro also provides its member municipalities with financial support for the preparation of technical documentation for infrastructure projects, which is essential for applying for donor funding and loans.
“In the previous period, the Union of Municipalities allocated approximately EUR 1 million for this purpose, while an additional EUR 500,000 has been planned for the current year. The implementation of the supported projects is already underway,” Živković concluded.
