Chapter 27 accession process and monitoring situation in different countries - MONTENEGRO Webinar "Environmental Approximation in Western Balkans And Turkey“ 24th - 25th of February 2016 Natasa Kovacevic, Green Home

Montenegro and EU accession – state of the game DateEvent 15 October 2007 Montenegro signs the Stabilisation and Association Agreement 15 December 2008Formal application for membership submitted 12 April 2010 Montenegro submits answers to the Commission's Questionnaire 9 November 2010 European Commission replies to the answers of the Questionnaire with a positive opinion (Avis) 17 December 2010Montenegro receives official candidate status 29 June 2012Accession negotiations begin with the screening process 4 February 2013Explanatory screening for chapter 27 – environment 18 March 2013Bilateral screening for chapter 27 December 2013 Report on harmonization with EU acquis with opening benchmarks September 2015 Country report asses early stage of harmonization and not fulfilled opening benchmarks – Chapter still closed

Progress of legislation harmonisation and process design Opening and closing benchmarks are instruments designed by the EU that were used for the first time during Croatia's accession negotiations and now in Montenegro, as a tool to emphasize the most important reforms on the path to the full alignment with the acquis. December comprehensive plan for putting in place the necessary administrative capacity and required financial resources to implement the environment acquis with targets and deadlines. This plan should be coherent with the process to complete the legislative alignment and the start of implementation. Water management Climate change Nature Proteciton Waste management Programe for accesion to EU of Montenegro Approximation strategy ongoing – action plan for legislative actions needed for full transposition, estimated costs needed for full implementation, upgrade administrative capacities

Progress of legislation harmonisation and process design

What CSOs doing to get involved Negotiation working group (4 NGOs) Progress and country reports (case studies and comments) Public debates for specific Chapter on progress Reporting specific issues to the EC Meetings with EU representatives: – EC, Parliament study visits (P2P study visits, projects and nets related visits) – DEU to Montenegro (consultative meetings on progress reports, other) – Desk officer for Montenegro (in Montenegro and Brussels) Participation at experience echange meetings (Lithuania, Croatia, Hungary, Romania and spec thematic issues i.e. Industrial emmisions, Natura 2000 etc.) ECRAN/Environmental and Climate ( – aim to support NGOs in their active and constructive role in the enlargement process. National Convention for EU integration project ( – 2014) National IPA CSF financing for establishing monitoring WG

Lessons learned If you are part of the negotiation WG: Make sure that adequate environmental NGOs are presented in the WG You have to put and effort for understanding the process, specific and wide requirements of the EU aquis Share subgroups by thematic areas whereas you have the most expirience, knowledge Fight for setting up clear rules to reach full information of the process and contuniuty of participation Ask for changing of the unactive participants from the NGOs Communicate the information to the stakeholders If you are outside player: Do your homework and learn about legal possibilities to impact EU accession process Raise your visibility, partnerships and dialogue in international and national circles and Media to increase your leverage Organize your monitoring WG with other CSOs, whereas each CSO have to specialize certain env. Issue (waste, water quality, nature protection) Share your monitoring reports by important stakeholders (EC, EP, DEU, Media) and case studies prior to the Country/progress reports

Thank you for attention Natasa Kovacevic, Executive Director, NGO Green Home Address: Dalmatinska 78, Podgorica, Montenegro Phone/Fax: , GSM: Green Home is non-profit, non-governmental organization, established on 14/02/2000