The recent announcement by the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property, Slaven Radunović, regarding the mass legalization of illegally constructed buildings—stating that only those situated on the routes of roads or power lines will be excluded—has been deemed a significant setback for the legal order, spatial planning, environmental protection, and the fight against crime and corruption in Montenegro, according to the Network of Non-Governmental Organizations of the North.

“Minister Radunović, with this approach, you portray the law as a mere guideline for the powerful and unscrupulous, while ordinary citizens, who have spent years obtaining permits, paying taxes, and adhering to regulations, are made to feel foolish.”

“Legalizing all structures built illegally, based on an ambiguous definition of ‘public interest,’ undermines the very principles this country claims to uphold. Who will determine if a building is on the route of a future road or in a public interest area? Will it be the same officials who have remained silent as natural landscapes have succumbed to concrete while vast expanses of land are devastated for personal gain?” questions the Network in a message directed at the Minister.

It is particularly concerning that there has been no mention of investigating the sources of funding behind these extensive illegal constructions—from apartment complexes in national parks to luxury villas and ethno-settlements, even in UNESCO-protected areas such as the National Parks “Durmitor,” “Prokletije,” and “Skadar Lake,” as well as the Tara River Canyon and the old town of Kotor…

“Mr. Minister, there is a significant difference between someone building a modest family home out of necessity and someone, motivated by greed, constructing unlawfully, disregarding regulations, harming nature, and often laundering money tied to criminal activities, whether involving cigarette smuggling, drugs, or other types of organized crime. This announcement conflates all these cases, which is disgraceful.”

At a time when the global community is striving to protect its remaining natural treasures, your message suggests that the transformation of Montenegro into a concrete landscape is acceptable. This is presented as a ‘new beginning’ and ‘zero tolerance’ going forward, while prior illegal constructions enjoy retroactive immunity. Minister, if your statement is impulsive, please rectify it. If not, we urge you to clarify and provide unequivocal answers to the citizens and the interested public:

Why are inspectors from Urban and Construction Inspection not acting on the numerous submitted initiatives for oversight of illegally constructed facilities, with inspectors from Pljevlja and Bijelo Polje taking the lead? Are they waiting for a blanket legalization before they can proceed?

Will structures built in protected areas and national parks be granted legality?

Will the origins of the funds used in this extensive illegal construction be scrutinized?

Who will be held accountable for the period when inspections were “unavailable,” leading to rampant illegal construction?

“Are satellite images being used to target the small offenders while the powerful continue to evade scrutiny?” questions the NGO Network of the North.

They have called on Radunović to explicitly dismiss the possibility of legalizing edifices built in protected areas and instead to announce the dismantling of all illegal structures that threaten Montenegro’s natural and cultural heritage.

“You will have our complete support in this endeavor. However, if you continue to hold the position that everything can be legalized—then, Mr. Minister, you have effectively endorsed lawlessness,” concludes the NGO Network of the North.

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