As of October 2023, the current government has yet to establish the National Council for Sustainable Development, hindering Montenegrin institutions’ preparedness to achieve goals in this area.

This finding comes from the State Audit Institution (SAI), which evaluated the implementation of recommendations outlined in the Performance Audit Report titled “Readiness of Montenegro’s Institutions for Implementing Sustainable Development Goals from the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.”

The SAI indicates that out of 14 recommendations, five have been fully implemented, three remain unaddressed, four are partially completed, and two are actively being worked on.

“The National Council for Sustainable Development serves multiple functions, including providing the government with recommendations and expert opinions for policy adoption and development projects aligned with sustainable development principles, harmonizing sectoral strategic documents with these policies, reviewing national reports mandated by international conventions, and monitoring progress toward the sustainable development goals set by the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030, the Green Deal, the EU Climate Package, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, along with other national and international regulations,” the SAI concludes.

The SAI advised that the involved audit subjects (National Council for Sustainable Development, General Secretariat of the Government, Statistical Office, and the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning, and Urbanism) are to provide a new report by May 13 of the following year concerning the recommendations that remain unimplemented.

The SAI Collegium, which includes head Branislav Radulović and member Milan Dabović, in their 2023 audit report, found that the country is not adequately prepared to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a global initiative adopted by the UN in 2015 aimed at promoting sustainable development worldwide. It comprises 17 goals designed to guide sustainability efforts across different sectors and areas by 2030.

Montenegro formally adopted the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSD) back in 2016, thereby fully integrating the UN’s Agenda requirements into its national framework, according to the SAI.

“The overall assessment of each country’s performance in achieving the 17 global sustainable development goals is determined using the SDG Index. For 2022, Montenegro ranked 86th, making it the lowest-ranked European nation. However, due to efforts of relevant authorities (primarily the Office for Sustainable Development with support from UNDP and the UN) during 2022 and 2023 aimed at accelerating the achievement of sustainable development goals, Montenegro improved its position by 19 places according to the SDG report for 2023, now standing at 67th,” highlighted the SAI.

The audit report emphasizes that to better implement sustainable development goals, further steps must be taken to enhance the legal and strategic framework, as well as to build the capacities of relevant institutions.

“Particularly crucial is the development of capacities within the Statistical Office to clearly monitor sustainable development goals and fulfill the roles outlined by the NSSD 2030. To make progress on implementing sustainable development goals, it is essential to intensify efforts in aligning sector strategies and accompanying plans and programs with the NSSD 2030, ensuring that the duties and responsibilities of all entities involved in its implementation are clearly defined,” the audit asserts.

Montenegro was ranked 86th in 2022, making it the lowest-performing European country in reaching its 17 global sustainable development goals.

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