Podgorica, (MINA) – In order to close Chapter 27 – Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Montenegro must move from drafts and plans to concrete decisions and clearly defined deadlines, said executive director of the NGO Zero Waste, Vanja Cicmil.

She noted that environmental policy documents in Montenegro have been largely written, but that institutions, local services and inspections are not yet sufficiently empowered to implement these policies in practice.

In an interview with the MINA News Agency, Cicmil emphasized that the biggest challenge in Chapter 27 is the gap between regulations and their implementation, because controls remain insufficient and institutional capacities weak.

Commenting on the European Commission’s (EC) Report in the part regarding ​​Chapter 27, Cicmil stated that the EC document acknowledges progress, but also clearly indicates that environmental reforms are advancing more slowly than they should.

When asked whether she agrees with Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North Damjan Culafic, who recently said that Montenegro has entered the final phase for closing Chapter 27, Cicmil responded that documents are mostly written, but that the institutions, local services and inspections still lack capacity to implement these policies in practice.

Asked if she believes it is possible to finish all planned activities by the deadline planned to end negotiations next year, she said that this will only be possible if Montenegro moves from plans and drafts to concrete decisions and clearly defined deadlines.