OSCE Mission to Montenegro and partners host first regional panel on environmental management
The OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in partnership with the NGO Environmental Movement Ozone, on 10 June 2014 in Podgorica hosted the first regional panel discussion on challenges and experiences in environmental management in the region.
Approximately 55 participants from national environmental authorities, civil society – including NGOs, Aarhus Centres, media, academia and parliamentary political parties attended the event. Guest lecturers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia also shared their good practices.
Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Ambassador Janina Hrebičkova said recent developments in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina show that environmental management requires a regional and co-ordinated approach, and noted the important role the Aarhus Centres play.
State Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Daliborka Pejović, highlighted Montenegro’s main environmental challenges: the need to strengthen the administrative capacities of environmental institutions; more effective use of international funds; taking a regional approach in the protection of nature, water resources and waste management and in confronting climate changes; and further promoting a participatory approach in decision-making processes.
General Director of the Directorate for the Environment and Climate Change Ivana Vojinović emphasized the School of Ecological Activism`s contribution in launching public dialogue on the most problematic environmental issues.
Conclusions from the discussions recognized the need for regional co-operation and planning in environmental management at all levels, the establishment of a system of adequate and timely exchange of information among media and NGOs in the region, a regional approach towards waste management, formalization of the regional network of Aarhus Centres and furthering the work of the School of Ecological Activism at the regional level.