“We cannot expect citizens to develop environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility toward space and nature if, at the same time, they see that decision-makers are sending the exact opposite message through their actions,” was concluded at the panel titled “Do Political Leaders Understand Green Policies?”, organized last night by Civic Alliance in Ulcinj.
Speakers at the panel included Genci Nimanbegu, President of the Municipality of Ulcinj; Draško Boljević, Director of the Environmental Protection Fund of Montenegro (Eco Fund); and Milan Radović, Program Director of Civic Alliance.
Commenting on whether the case of Velika Plaža demonstrates in practice that public interest and green standards are being overridden by the business interests of large capital, Genci Nimanbegu stated that neither the Prime Minister nor the parliamentary majority had taken their opinion into account, adding that it was one of the worst decisions he has witnessed since entering Parliament.
He expressed particular concern that, as he noted, the interests of a foreign company were placed above those of Montenegrin citizens.
“I believe this decision shows that, instead of maturing as a society, in the past ten years we have seen the culmination of populism, party interests, and perhaps even some hidden interests,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the President’s refusal to sign the law and the opinion of the European Commission would influence Members of Parliament in the second round of voting.
When asked whether meetings with the Prime Minister had been marked by unpleasant tones and offensive language, Nimanbegu confirmed this, adding that the Prime Minister had clearly not fully understood the role and responsibility that comes with leading the Government.
Regarding the Ulcinj Salina, Nimanbegu announced the establishment of a management mechanism and noted that, although they seek partnership with the state, they are not yet close to reaching an agreement. He also emphasized the importance of protecting the unique Bojana River basin, highlighting that this area should serve people and not be viewed solely through the lens of tourism.
Asked how large-scale projects affect the waste management system, Draško Boljević stated that he assumes investors are becoming increasingly environmentally aware, but questioned whether the state is ready to implement such projects in accordance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
He added that the amount of waste generated per capita is already increasing daily and continues to grow each year, particularly with the arrival of tourists during the season.
Commenting on illegal landfills, Boljević emphasized that the Eco Fund is involved in their remediation, noting that some locations are included in national plans but not in local ones, and vice versa. He announced that future efforts will focus on creating a system whereby only sites included in both plans would be subject to remediation.
“When it comes to waste, the state currently generates zero euros in revenue from it. The priority is to adopt a set of by-laws as soon as possible, harmonize regulations horizontally with other laws, and enable Montenegro to generate revenue from waste. Only then can we begin to speak about achieving certain goals,” Boljević concluded.
Commenting on the current issue of Velika Plaža, Milan Radović stated that the case reveals a series of irregularities, as the entire process lacked transparency and failed to involve the expert public or take into account the views of relevant agencies.
“For thirty years, we have witnessed in Parliament that the interests of political parties are almost always placed above the public interest,” he added.
“I cannot recall a single case in which an MP voted against the interests of their party, even when it would have meant protecting the public good,” Radović concluded.
