ECENA Exchange ProgrammeFirst Plenary Meeting19-20 January, 2006Zagreb, Croatia

Update on strengthening the Update on strengthening the implementation and enforcement of implementation and enforcement of EU environmental legislation EU environmental legislation according to the recommendations according to the recommendations from the EC 2005 Reportfrom the EC 2005 Report

in the Republic of Montenegroin the Republic of Montenegro

Prepared by Biljana Djurovic, ECENA National Prepared by Biljana Djurovic, ECENA National CoordinatorCoordinator

Ministry of Environment and Physical PlanningMinistry of Environment and Physical Planning

The European Partnership with Serbia and Montenegro

• Means to materialise the European perspective of West Balkan countries within the framework of the SAP

• The first Partnership with S&M was adopted by the European Council on 14 June 2004

• It lists short- and medium-term priorities that should be carried out

• The Commission monitors the progress through the Progress Reports

• The EP priorities form the basis for programming the assistance from EU funds

The First European Partnership prioritiesEnvironment

Short-term priorities (1-2 years)Short-term priorities (1-2 years)• Adoption of the strategy on waste water and solid

waste with a view to approximating with EU acquis

Medium-term priorities (3-4 years)Medium-term priorities (3-4 years)• Adopt and implement legislation on environmental

impact assessment in line with the EU acquis• Develop an overall environmental strategy (waste

water, solid waste, air) with a view to adopt environmental protection framework legislation approximating with EU acquis

• Set up an Environmental Protection Agency

Action plan for Implementation of European Partnership Recommendations

Adopted by the Government in December 2004 Adopted by the Government in December 2004 withwith

• Responsible authority/institution,• Specified measures/activities,

– Planned– Realized

• Budget allocation if required by a certain measure,• Timetable

Monitoring

The implementation of the Action plan is The implementation of the Action plan is regularly examined by the:regularly examined by the:

1. Government of Montenegro, through the Republic Commission for the Coordination of the Process of Accession to the EU (monthly progress reports by the responsible authorities)

2. European Commission (quarterly reports by the Government of Montenegro)

3. Enhanced Permanent Dialogue Meetings4. EC Annual Progress Report for 2005

Realization of the measures contained in the Action Plan

Adopted (2004-2005)

General strategiesGeneral strategies: Montenegro’s EU Integration Network (2004); The Communication Strategy for informing the public on Montenegro’s association with EU (2005); Feasibility Study approved (2005); Economic Reform Agenda 2003-2007,revision (2005); Millennium Development Goals Report (2005), Energy Community Treaty (2005)

Sectoral strategies: Sectoral strategies: National Policy on Waste Management (2004); National Waste Management Strategy (2004); Feasibility study for wastewater treatment in the coastal region (2004) and in the central and northern region (2005); National Energy policy (2005); National Energy Efficiency Strategy (2005)

Realization of the measures contained in the Action Plan

Legislation: Legislation:

Law on Spatial Plan and Development (2004) Law on Environmental Impact Assessment (2005) Law on Strategic Impact Assessment (2005) Law on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control

(2005)Law on Waste Management (2005) Law on Access to Information (2005)

(OJ of Montenegro, No. 80/2005)

Planned Activities in line with mid-term priorities

Forthcoming (2006 – 2007)Forthcoming (2006 – 2007)

Strategies:Strategies: Spatial plan of Montenegro up to 2020; National Sustainable Development Strategy; Integrated Coastal Zone Management Strategy; Biodiversity Strategy; Climate Change Strategy; Air Quality Strategy; Transport Strategy; Action plan for the implementation of Energy Efficiency Strategy; General Environmental Investment Plan; Implementing strategy and Institutional Capacity building

Legislation:Legislation: Amendments to the Environment Law, Approximation to European standards in environmental noise, ambient air quality, radioactivity, environmental fund, water, chemicals, nature protection, genetically modified organisms; Drafting of secondary legislation, Establishment of Environmental Protection Agency and Project Implementation Unit, Laws on ratification of Kyoto Protocol, Bern Convention, Barcelona Convention and desertification Convention

EC 2005 Progress report, November 2005

European Partnership: Overall AssessmentEuropean Partnership: Overall Assessment

“Montenegro has made some good progress in implementing the EP`s short-term priorities, and also started to address some of the medium-term ones. The implementation of the priorities has affected in some cases by lack of legislative developments and rather frequently by the lack of administrative capacity”

Institutional and administrative capacity improvements

Ongoing projects:• Strengthening capacities of the Ministry to deal with problems Strengthening capacities of the Ministry to deal with problems

of environmental management – of environmental management – to improve environmental management and effective implementation of EU standards

• Support to the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning – Support to the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning – Technical assistance to finalize and implement an institutional restructuring strategy within the Ministry, including support to the establishment of an EPA an development of its functions

First Twinning program• Strengthening institutional capacity for European integration Strengthening institutional capacity for European integration

process –process –new project with the Governments of France and new project with the Governments of France and Slovenia which will start in 2006 and last 18 monthsSlovenia which will start in 2006 and last 18 months

Regional and International cooperation

• Bilateral cooperationBilateral cooperation (Albania, Italy, Finland, Austria, Japan, Holland)

• Regional cooperationRegional cooperation (REReP, Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, Central European Initiative, Mediterranean Action Plan

• Cooperation with International OrganizationsCooperation with International Organizations (UNDP, UNEP, OSCE, GEF, World Bank, UNIDO, EPA, (UNDP, UNEP, OSCE, GEF, World Bank, UNIDO, EPA, UNECE, EEA)UNECE, EEA)

The second European Partnership priorities

• Proposal launched by EC in November 2005• Identifies new priorities for action in line

with progress made by the country• Provides guidance for programming the

financial assistance of the EC• Lists updated short- and medium-term

priorities for the Country’s preparations for further integration with the EU

The second European Partnership priorities

Short-term prioritiesShort-term priorities1.1. Continue approximating legislation to EU standards, Continue approximating legislation to EU standards,

notably environmental protection framework legislationnotably environmental protection framework legislation2.2. Implement and enforce adopted legislationImplement and enforce adopted legislation3.3. Develop an overall environmental protection strategy Develop an overall environmental protection strategy

(water, waste, air)(water, waste, air)4.4. Adopt the Land Use PlanAdopt the Land Use Plan5.5. Adopt the Sustainable Development Strategy and Adopt the Sustainable Development Strategy and

sectoral strategies (integrated coastal zone sectoral strategies (integrated coastal zone management, biodiversity, climate change)management, biodiversity, climate change)

6.6. Strengthen administrative capacityStrengthen administrative capacity

The second European Partnership priorities

Medium-term prioritiesMedium-term priorities1. Continue implementing and enforcing legislation approximated to

EU legislation. Continue to implement legislation on environmental impact assessment

2. Ratify and start implementation of the Kyoto protocol3. Ensure a viable financial framework for the implementation of a

mid to long-term environmental protection policy4. Continue approximating legislation to EU legislation and

standards, notably legislation on air protection, water and waste5. Begin implementing the Land Use Plan, overall environmental

protection strategy, the Sustainable Development Strategy and sectoral strategies

6. Continue strengthening the administrative capacity of line ministries and bodies in charge of environmental planning, permitting, inspecting and monitoring, as well as project management

New Action Plan

In order to prepare for further integration with the EU, the Ministry for International Economic Relations and European Integration, in cooperation with the Commission for Coordination of the process of Accession to the EU, develops a new Action plan with a timetable and specific measures to address the priorities of this European Partnership.

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!