Questionnaire: 27 Environment
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Government of Montenegro Ministry of Physical Planning and Environmental Protection Questionnaire Information requested by the European Commission to the Government of Montenegro for the preparation of the Opinion on the application of Montenegro for membership of the European Union 27 Environment Minister: Branimir Gvozdenovic Podgorica, December 2009 27 Environment 2 27 Environment TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERS OF THE ACQUIS – ABILITY TO ASSUME THE OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP..5 Chapter 27: Environment ...............................................................................................................6 I. GENERAL POLICY .................................................................................................................7 II. SECTORAL POLICIES..........................................................................................................56 A. Horizontal Legislation .......................................................................................................56 B. Air Quality.........................................................................................................................78 C. Waste Management .........................................................................................................92 D. Water Quality ................................................................................................................. 117 E. Nature Protection............................................................................................................ 153 Pursuant to Article 4 of this Law forests can be:.......................................................................... 165 F. Industrial Pollution Control and Risk Management.......................................................... 176 G. Chemicals ...................................................................................................................... 181 H. Climate Change.............................................................................................................. 188 I. Genetically Modified Organisms....................................................................................... 200 J. Noise............................................................................................................................... 203 K. Civil Protection................................................................................................................ 205 3 27 Environment 4 27 Environment CHAPTERS OF THE ACQUIS – ABILITY TO ASSUME THE OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP 5 27 Environment Chapter 27: Environment 6 27 Environment I. GENERAL POLICY 1. Are there any constitutional provisions in relation to environmental protection and/or sustainable development? Yes, there are. Preamble and specific Articles of the Constitution of Montenegro as of October 2007 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro 01/07) contain provisions on the commitment of Montenegro to the principles of environmental protection and sustainable development. In addition to the citizens’ decision to live in a state founded on freedom, peace, tolerance, respect of human rights and liberties, multicultural environment, democracy, the rule of law which is stated in the Preamble of the Constitution of Montenegro, a conviction is also included that the “state is responsible for ensuring nature protection, healthy environment, sustainable development, balanced development of all its regions and establishment of social justice”. Article 1 of the Constitution defines Montenegro as a „civic, democratic and ecological state, based on the respect of social justice and the rule of law“. In the area of environmental protection and preservation, Article 23 Environment of the Constitution prescribes that “everyone shall have the right to a sound environment, timely and full information about the status of the environment, right to influence the decision-making regarding the issues of importance for the environment and to legal protection of these rights, (as well as) that everyone, the state in particular, shall be bound to preserve and improve the environment. Constitutional provisions related to sustainable development Constitution, by its Article 78 Protection of natural and cultural heritage, stipulates that everybody is obliged to protect natural and cultural heritage of public interest, as well as that the state protects natural and cultural heritage. On the other hand, Article 59 paragraph 2,, which guarantees the freedom of entrepreneurship, leaves the possibility to limit this freedom if, among other reasons, it is necessary for the protection of people’s health, environment, natural resources and cultural heritage.” Montenegro is obliged, according to the Article 140 of the Constitution, in the section „Economic area and equality“, to provide incentives for „balanced economic development of all its regions“, which is in line with one of the fundamental principles of sustainable development. 2. Is there a general environmental protection framework act, serving as a basis for other environmental legislation? There is Law on Environment, adopted by Montenegro’s Parliament on 29 July 2008 (Official Gazette of Montenegro 48/08), which regulates environmental issues as a framework law. Environment is defined in Article 6 paragraph 1 of this Law: Environment is the natural surroundings: air, soil, water and sea, fauna and flora; phenomena and effects of: climate, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, noise and vibrations, as well as a antropogenic surroundings: towns and other urban settlements, cultural and historic heritage, infrastructural, industrial and other facilities“, and according to the provisions defined by Article 2, the importance of integrated environmental management, environmental protection and sustainable development is recognised. It is envisaged that this Law and related by-laws govern issues related to the specific environmental areas (Article 5). Principle of the Law on Enviroment is defined in Article 1, which governs: „environmental and sustainable development principles, environmental actors and instruments, public participation in environmental decision making and other issues relevant for the environment“. 7 27 Environment In accordance with the Law on Environment, as a framework law, a series of regulations and by- laws have been adopted for regulating issues relevant for the environment and environmental management system. Therefore, taking into account Article 5 of the Law on Environment, particular regulations which govern issues relevant for the specific environmental areas, such as: Law on Nature Protection, Law on National Parks, Law on Air Quality, Law on Environmental Impact Assessment, Law on Strategic Environmental Assessment, have been adopted. 3. What are the main principles underpinning environmental legislation (e.g. polluter pays principle, precautionary principle, etc.)? Environmental principles are defined by Article 4 of the Law on Environment (Official Gazette of Montenegro 48/08): 1) Sustainable development principle When strategies, plans, programmes and regulations are adopted, Montenegro’s Parliament (hereinafter: the Parliament), the Government of Montenegro (hereinafter: the Government) and local self-government units, within the scope of their responsibility, have to take into account sustainable development principle. With the aim of achieving sustainable development, environmental considerations stipulated by this law and related regulations, have to be included in drafting and implementation of adopted policies and activities in all areas of economic and social development. 2) Environmental integrated approach principle Environmental integrated approach prevents, i.e. reduces the risk to the environment to the minimum. Considerations related to the high level of environmental protection and improvement of the quality of the environment have to be an integral part of all premises upon which balanced economic development is based, and are ensured in line with the sustainable development principle. 3) Natural resources preservation principle Natural resources are used under the condition and in a way which ensures preservation of values of geo-diversity, biodiversity, protected natural values and landscapes. Renewable natural resources are used under the conditions which ensure their permanent and efficient renewal and constant upgrading of their quality. Non-renewable natural resources are used under the conditions which ensure their long-term economic and reasonable use, including limitations posed on the use of strategically important and rare natural resources and substitution with other available resources, composite or artificial substances. 4) Cooperation principle Sustainable development is achieved by joint efforts of the Parliament, Government and local self- government units, including all other actors with the aim of protecting the environment, within their scope of responsibility. State ensures cooperation and solidarity in solving global and inter-governmental environmental issues, especially through international treaties, cooperation with other states, and conclusion of relevant agreeements, as well as by informing other states on transboundary environmental impacts, environmental accidents, and exchanging environmental information at an international level. Government and local self-government units, within their scope of responsibility, together and in solidarity, participate in environmental protection implementation, in order to ensure