Podgorica, (MINA) – In order to close Chapter 27, Montenegro will need a lot of changes and actions and thus it is good that many stakeholders and citizens are involved in the national environmental campaign “Čuvaj da te čuva”, said EU Ambassador to Montenegro Johann Sattler.

Sattler told the MINA News Agency that he is happy that as part of the “Čuvaj da te čuva” campaign, launched in June, they have a big and growing coalition of the willing.

“We have many stakeholders in this. We have national institutions, very strongly involved, including Minister of Ecology, Mr. Culafic. We have local authorities – many mayors have joined us in the meantime, but most importantly, we have a lot of active citizens”, Sattler said.

He stated that among those involved are environmental activists, youth organizations, journalists, artists.

“We have a good coalition of willing together, who want to help in cleaning Montenegro”, said Sattler.

Sattler pointed out that they are focused on several specific areas, adding that he is happy that they are already working on three or four specific areas, such as illegal landfills, but also old tires, which are a big issue in Montenegro.

Sattler also mentioned a new platform called Cuvaj.me, adding that it is already being used by hundreds of citizens to report problems and eco-crime.

Speaking about the activities carried out so far within the “Čuvaj da te čuva” campaign, he recalled that a big clean-up of Cemovsko polje was organized earlier in July, adding that it is a symbolic spot, because it has become a synonym for everything that does not work when it comes to waste management.

Sattler announced a follow-up action in Cemovsko polje and added that next week they will focus on Moraca, which is a big issue due to the lack of a proper modern wastewater treatment plant.

Sattler recalled that the for the wastewater treatment plant construction project exists, stating that it is necessary to start with its realization.

“Ribnica is planned for August, and we will be continuing throughout the country”, said Sattler.

He remarked that there is a beautiful sentence in the Montenegrin Constitution – that Montenegro is an ecological state.

“I think now is time to live up to that. I think that acceleration of the EU path is a very good time also to live up to this ecological pledge you have in your Constitution. And, by the way, it is also necessary, because it is one of the chapters that you need to close if you want to become a member of the EU. The famous chapter 27 on environment should be closed until the end of the next year,” Sattler said.

Asked about the construction of a wastewater treatment plant in Podgorica, which has faced opposition from some locals, he pointed out that the wastewater management is a contribution to the improvement of the environment adding that it is solving, and not creating a problem.

He added that there are other locations, such as Bijelo Polje, where similar projects are close to be implemented, but final decisions need to be made.

“I also encourage the authorities in Bijelo Polje to move there, to create a better environment for citizens and also to not let the water to go unfiltered, uncleaned into the Lim River”, said Sattler.