The leaders of coastal municipalities have urged the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, to present proposals for amendments to maritime domain laws during Wednesday’s session.

They expressed gratitude to the MPs who requested the amendment of the Assembly’s agenda and specifically mentioned Tonći Janović from the Europe Now Movement and Nikola Janović from the Democratic Party of Socialists for their public support of this initiative. Additionally, they appealed to all other MPs to lend their votes towards the decentralization and democratization process by modifying the status and functions of the existing JP “Morsko dobro.”

The coastal municipality leaders believe this initiative is crucial, asserting that it is the only pathway for citizens in Montenegro’s coastal regions to engage in decisions affecting their future. They emphasized that achieving this goal, as stated in Kotor, would mark a significant milestone for society as a whole.

“We have reached a consensus among all MPs from the Montenegrin coast in favor of our proposals. We implore all members of the Parliament of Montenegro, irrespective of their political affiliations, to back our initiative tomorrow, allowing coastal citizens to take ownership of their futures in their own communities,” proclaimed Vladimir Jokić, the Mayor of the Municipality of Kotor.

The proposed legal amendments aim to transition the current entity “Morsko dobro” into a regulatory agency tasked with establishing enforceable guidelines to enhance the management and transparency of the coastal zone, a vital asset for all coastal municipalities in Montenegro.

“Our intention is not to dissolve the Public Enterprise ‘Morsko dobro,’ but rather to reform it into a regulatory body that will provide local governments with essential guidelines,” commented Dušan Raičević, the Mayor of the Municipality of Bar, reminding that the initiative was forwarded to the Parliament of Montenegro back in December 2024.

Željko Komnenović, the President of the Municipality of Tivat, highlighted the consolidated stance of coastal municipalities against including their representatives in working groups regarding the proposed legal solutions.

“We will refrain from participating in working groups or offering new solutions until the parliamentary procedure pertaining to our previously submitted legal proposals from last year is concluded. We intend to maintain limited communication with the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, and particularly with the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management. We wish to avoid a breakdown in dialogue but must convey a clear message that neglecting our requests is unacceptable,” stated Komnenović.

Nikola Jovanović, the Mayor of Budva, pointed out that the shared challenges faced by citizens have unified local governments along the coast. He affirmed their willingness to collaborate with the Government and Parliament of Montenegro, while also criticizing their lack of seriousness in addressing initiatives.

“Tomorrow’s parliamentary session will serve as a litmus test for those aspiring to join the European Union, particularly concerning decentralization, which includes restoring resources to coastal municipalities, as the country’s budget is reliant on them,” Jovanović emphasized, asserting that beaches should be returned to the municipalities for management, with governmental oversight.

Genci Nimanbegu, the President of the Municipality of Ulcinj, raised concerns regarding the parliamentary discussion on the Spatial Plan of Montenegro, advocating for a postponement to allow for further analyses.

Addressing issues related to border crossings in Herceg Novi, Mayor Stevan Katić pointed out the lengthy waits that passengers experience, which can extend to several hours, posing a significant challenge to tourism development.

“We have plans to tackle these challenges, including proposals to expedite state border crossing processes. The need for local governmental input in decision-making, particularly regarding the bypass and the construction of the Adriatic-Ionian highway, is being underscored,” Katić noted.

The coastal municipality leaders also raised concerns about traffic issues, urging authorities to accelerate work on all road segments from Debeli Brijeg to the Albanian border. Due to issues with municipal waste, they issued a joint statement to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, urgently requesting an expansion of the Možura regional landfill’s capacity, which is currently overloaded.

The mayors agreed to maintain this format of meetings at least once a month to address various community challenges.

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