Spajić: Time for a truly ecological and European Montenegro

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and the EU Ambassador to Montenegro Johann Sattler officially launched the national environmental protection campaign under the slogan Čuvaj da te čuva (Preserve It, So It Preserves You) at a conference held in Podgorica.

From the iconic Skaline steps, a strong message was sent reaffirming Montenegro’s constitutional commitment—enshrined in Article 1—to being an ecological state.

Unfortunately, there’s a wide gap between the title of ecological state and today’s reality. Decades have passed since the Žabljak Declaration was adopted, and it seems we’ve found time for everything—except to preserve what is arguably our greatest resource and potential, said Prime Minister Spajić.

He emphasized that the moment has come to fulfill promises, adopt European standards, implement progressive legislation, and change long-standing practices.

Now is the time to realize two major commitments—building a truly ecological Montenegro and becoming a full member of the European Union by 2028. That is our generational dream, Spajić added.

The campaign, fronted by prominent national figures including footballers Stevan Jovetić and Vasilije Adžić, student Itana Zvizdojević, and actor Milivoje Obradović, will include a range of targeted measures and concrete actions aimed at protecting the environment.

The Prime Minister underlined that the government will intensify efforts to combat environmental crime, preventing polluters and illegal exploitation from going unpunished. In addition, regulations will be strengthened to further reduce the use of plastic bags and promote sustainable alternatives.

We will remove illegal dumpsites and ensure they don’t reappear—through regular monitoring, warning signage, and strict penalties. We are cleaning nature of used car tires. A specialized machine is on its way to Montenegro that will recycle these hazardous materials into raw materials ready for export—offering an additional economic benefit, Spajić announced.

This is just the beginning. The time for symbolism is over. The time for concrete action has begun, he concluded.

As part of the conference, three panel discussions were held to further promote the campaign and highlight the importance of environmental protection.