EU Environmental approximation in the WB

and Turkey- ETNAR Conference

Accession process in WB and civil society-MontenegroNataša KovačevićNGO Green Home

, Palic September

24th 26to th 2013

Chronology Date Event

15 October 2007 Montenegro signs the Stabilisation and Association Agreement

15 December 2008 Formal application for membership submitted

12 April 2010 Montenegro submits answers to the Commission's Questionnaire

9 November 2010 European Commission replies to the answers of the Questionnaire with a positive opinion (Avis)

17 December 2010 Montenegro receives official candidate status

12 October 2011 Commission recommends starting of negotiations

26 March 2012 Screening started

26 June 2012 European Council sets a target date of 29 June for the beginning of accession negotiations

29 June 2012 Accession negotiations begin with the screening process

4 February 2013 Explanatory screening for chapter 27 – environment

18 March 2013 Bilateral screening for chapter 27

Pending Report on harmonization with EU acquis with measures

Negotiation structure

The Montenegrin Government adopted the Decision on establishing a negotiating structure in February 2012.

• The Decision defined six main structures for the negotiation process: • Collegiums, • Negotiating Team, • State Delegation for Negotiations on the Accession of Montenegro to the EU,• working groups for negotiating chapters, • Office of the Chief Negotiator and the• Secretariat of the Negotiating Team.• It was defined that the structures will consist mainly of state officials, and the

inclusion of CSO members in the negotiation structures was not directly foreseen by the Decision.

• Relations with Parliament cleared, but remains undefined relation among parliement and CSOs.

• participation at experience echange meetings (Lithuania, Croatia, Hungary, Romania and spec thematic issues i.e. Industrial emmisions, Natura 2000 etc.)

• meetings with EU representatives:– EC, Parliament study visits (P2P study visits, projects and nets related

visits)– DEU to Montenegro (consultative meetings on progress reports, other)– Desk officer for Montenegro (in Montenegro and Brussels)

• RENA (Regional Environmental Network for Accession)/ECRAN - assists the beneficiary countries in exchange of information and experience related to preparation for accession (www.renanetwork.org)

• two ways of participation (national NGO representative and through• Environmental Forum (www.evforum.eu) – aim to support NGOs in their

active and constructive role in the enlargement process.

CSOs in preparations for for opening chapter 27

• National Convention for EU integration project (www.eukonvencija.me, 2010 – 2014)– Working group IV – Protection of the environment

• Conflicts and compromises between economy and ecology in the construction of Hydropower Plants in Montenegro

• Establishing Natura 2000 ecological network• Possible derogation with regards to the implementation of the limit

values for the emission of air pollutants• Chemicals

• use expert knowlede of other organisations International organisations IUCN, Euronatur, Birdlife, WWF, Transparency international, CEEWEB, SEE Change net and other networks and NGOs

• Internal training on role of NGOs in accession negotiation process

CSOs in preparations for opening chapter 27

• At the beginning of December 2012, the Chief Negotiator's Office invited CSOs to propose representatives for participation in the working group 27.

• Government of Montenegro adopted Decision for electing 60 WG members out of 4 NGOs:– NGO North Land – subgroup water quality and climate change– NGO PRONA – subgroup waste management and nature protection– NGO Zeleno Srce – subgroup waste management – NGO Green Home – subgroup nature protection and water quality

• Explanatory screening 4-8th February 2013• Bilateral screening 18-22nd March 2013• 3 working group meetings• Members of the working groups representing NGOs were not present at

explanatory and bilateral screening in Brussels which brings up a concern of possible future marginalization of civil society in the negotiation process.

CSOs in preparations for for opening chapter 27

CSOs in working groups

• environmental NGOs supportive in the process, not very active– different levels of knowledge and human capacities, – good and active in specific issues or project oriented issues

• no real communication strategy or networking for harmonizing NGOs engagement in working group

• restricted documents and links sharing for screening and Privacy Statement

• according to the Rules of Procedure, NGO representatives are full members of working groups, with the role to contribute and not to monitor the process, so they should not speak in public about the work of the working groups.

Thank You for attention!

NGO Green HomeAddress: Radosava Burica 31,Podgorica, MontenegroPhone/Fax: +382 20 609 375E-mail: natasa.kovacevic@greenhome.co.mewww.greenhome.co.me