Montenegro is ready to open Chapter 27 by the end of this year. Special attention must be paid to waters, waste management and environment protection, said president of competent parliamentary Committee Petar Ivanovic.
He reminded that he lead the process of meeting conditions and opening three negotiation chapters in the area of agriculture.
„We need to pass a lot of laws, prepare three strategies and three action plans, create a categorization of food processing facilities. Environment is a bit different”, he said to MINA Agency.
He said that one requirement was met – National strategy with Action plan for 2016 – 2020 was passed.
„This created conditions to open Chapter 27. Government and European Commission are now in charge. I believe this Chapter would be opened by the end of the year”, Ivanovic said.
„Water, waste and environment protection demand great financial investments in infrastructure, establishing of protected areas within NATURA 2000 program. I underline the water section importance, a great resource Montenegro has, that is being irresponsibly used”, he said.
He said every chapter was important for citizens of Montenegro.
„Life quality standard is important for faster development. In order to reach this goal, we must invest in infrastructure and industry”, he said.
This would preserve forests and agricultural land, biodiversity.
When asked about key ecological issues in Montenegro, Ivanovic said that it was up to people now.
„Key ecological issues are waste management, water management and better equipment for air purification”, Ivanovic said.
He said Montenegro has insufficient funds, so it must prioritize.
„State and local administration can take funds from EU resources that can solve some, but not all problems. We need special skills that are lacking in Montenegro”, Ivanovic said.
He said strategic documents concerning waste management in Niksic, Podgorica and Cetinje had been passed. There is a Strategy for waste management until 2030.
„Documents are there, but we need to work more”, he said.
He said that Podgorica established a company Landfill that takes care of landfills Livade, and it has contracts with Danilovgrad and Cetinje.
Niksic, Pluzine and Savnik established company Budos in order to manage waste regionally in landfill Budos in Niksic.
He was asked whether his position as a president of Committee for tourism, agriculture, ecology and spatial planning would make him resolve the matter of air pollution in Pljevlja, he said he was not the one to talk a lot.
„I prefer to work and let my results do the talking“, he said.
He said that he checked the documents in the Committee and seen that they had considered air pollution in Pljevlja, sending to the Parliament a series of conclusions with measurements to decrease the pollution. The Parliament passed these conclusion during the 9th session in fall of 2014.
„But these conclusions must be implemented. It is good that there are analysis, but without concrete work there is no use for them. Everyone must do their work“, Ivanovic said.
The text is part of a project “Strengthening capacities for better living environment in Montenegro”, that is being implemented by NGO Green Home with IPA support of European Union.
