“Montenegro makes continuous efforts in the direction of harmonizing our legislation with European regulations in the areas of traffic, energy, environment and climate change, as well as regional policy, as well as its quality application,” said chief negotiator Predrag Zenović.
He opened the 17th meeting of the Subcommittee for Transport, Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Regional Policy between Montenegro and the EU, where progress was discussed in the areas covered by chapters 14. Transport Policy, 15. Energy, 22. Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments and 27. Environment and climate change, in relation to the previous meeting of the Subcommittee, which was held on June 21 and 22, 2023.
Representatives of Montenegrin institutions presented the achieved results, ongoing and planned activities in the area of harmonization of national legislation with the EU acquis and strengthening of administrative capacities, and exchanged opinions with colleagues from the EC regarding the fulfillment of requirements arising from the European agenda in the areas covered by these chapters.
Chief negotiator Zenović said that, after intensive and successful work on chapters 23 and 24, Montenegro is strongly determined to intensify activities to fulfill the final benchmarks in the other negotiation chapters.
He pointed to the strong commitment of the Government of Montenegro to continue developing according to the principles of green economy and clean energy, while preserving the environment.
In this context, Zenović reminded that the Parliament of Montenegro, in the area of the environment, passed the Law on Waste Management, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Industrial Emissions, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Biocidal Products, and that the Government recently established the Law about forests.
He pointed out that active work is being done on the implementation of the Action Plan for meeting the final criteria in Chapter 27 Environment, as well as that Montenegro continues with activities to identify potential Natura 2000 areas.
The chief negotiator reminded that, in the field of transport, the Road Traffic Safety Strategy for the period 2024-2030, with the Action Plan 2024-2025, was drawn up, as well as that the Government will establish a new Draft Law on Railways as soon as possible.
Zenović reminded that in the field of energy, the Government established the Draft Law on the security of supply of oil derivatives, as well as that the Draft Law on the use of energy from renewable sources was prepared.
“Activities are underway to prepare the National Energy and Climate Plan for the period up to 2030. Also, on May 17, 2024, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on Protection from Ionizing Radiation, Radiation and Nuclear Safety,” Zenović said.
He emphasized that, in the area of regional policy, Montenegro has made significant efforts within the framework of Chapter 22, which has achieved progress in the strengthening of institutional and administrative capacities, as well as strategic planning and financial management capabilities, which are key to the efficient absorption and management of the EU funds.
The Deputy Head of the Unit for Montenegro and Serbia in the General Directorate for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Policy, Sindi van den Bogert, noted that the meeting of the Subcommittee is taking place in a very dynamic context of the process of Montenegro’s accession to the European Union, and that in the past six months there has been a strong focus both sides on implementing reforms in the area of the rule of law, the judiciary and meeting the temporary benchmarks in chapters 23 and 24. In this regard, she underlined that the recent progress achieved in the area of the rule of law is commendable, apostrophizing that Montenegro is becoming the first country in the Western Balkans to reach this important milestone.
With the Intergovernmental Conference devoted to chapters 23 and 24, it will be confirmed that Montenegro is once again the leader in the negotiation process, and that the door to temporarily closing the chapter will be open. Accordingly, she indicated that the member states will carefully monitor the process of capacity building for the implementation of the remaining obligations, but that Montenegro can count on strong support on the ambitious path of our country regarding the implementation of the remaining reforms necessary for full membership.
She reminded of the importance of adopting the Reform Agenda and implementing the reforms planned for it. In this regard, she pointed out the necessity of adopting the National Energy and Climate Plan without further delay. In addition, she recalled the need to adopt the Air Quality Monitoring Strategy.
Additionally, in the field of energy, Montenegro is expected to adopt the National Energy and Climate Plan as soon as possible, apostrophizing that decisions about the energy future should not be postponed any further. In the area of traffic, Montenegro should harmonize the Traffic Development Strategy with the Strategy for Sustainable and Smart Mobility for the Western Balkans, as well as adopt the Traffic Safety Strategy 2024-2030 as soon as possible. In the field of regional politics, it remains that project planning is of great importance and that it is necessary to hire professional staff in order to implement projects in a timely manner.
