The Committee for Utility Services and the Environment of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro submitted its Statement on the Draft Law on Utility Services with the aim of contributing, through dialogue and cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, to the adoption of a high-quality, applicable, and sustainable legal solution in the field of utility services.
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro considers that improving the normative framework in the field of utility services is of exceptional importance for the functioning of local self-governments, the work of utility companies, and the quality of services provided to citizens. For this reason, the Committee paid special attention to considering the solutions relating to the competences of the local level, the organization of the utility services system, as well as the financial and regulatory aspects of the proposed law.
In the Statement on the Draft from the public debate, the importance of early and comprehensive cooperation between state authorities and local self-governments was highlighted in the process of drafting regulations that directly relate to their competences. The Committee expressed the conviction that an open and partnership-based approach in the law preparation phase can significantly contribute to better alignment of the solutions with the needs of practice and the actual capacities of local communities.
Bearing in mind the complexity of the subject matter, its systemic nature, as well as the fact that the public debate took place during the end-of-year period and the New Year holidays, the Committee proposed that its deadline be extended until 4 February 2026. In this way, all municipalities, as well as their public services and utility companies, would be enabled to familiarize themselves in greater detail with the proposed solutions, carry out the necessary analyses, and submit reasoned proposals, comments, and suggestions.
A special part of the Statement is devoted to the provisions relating to the regulation of utility service prices. The Committee pointed to the need to further consider the roles and competences of all involved entities, in order to ensure a clear, functional, and harmonized regulatory framework. It also emphasized the importance of reviewing previous experiences from the field of water services, with the aim that any new solutions be based on lessons from practice and the real needs of the system.
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro believes that regulatory mechanisms should contribute to improving the operations of utility companies, raising the quality of utility services, and the long-term financial sustainability of the system, while at the same time taking into account the social aspect and the interests of citizens. In this regard, it is important that any changes be introduced gradually, with a clear methodology, precisely defined competences, and adequate preparation of all participants in the process.
The Union of Municipalities remains committed to cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development and other competent institutions, with the shared goal of reaching, through dialogue, solutions that will be applicable in practice and directed toward the long-term improvement of utility services in Montenegro.
The Committee for Utility Services and the Environment will submit to the relevant ministry more detailed individual proposals and suggestions on the text of the Draft Law.
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