Montenegro is facing a significant staffing shortage as it prepares for EU Chapter 27 on Environment and Climate Change, with an estimated deficit of 235 employees across institutions responsible for implementing environmental legislation and regulatory obligations. Planning estimates indicate that up to 251 additional employees may need to be recruited by 2030 to strengthen administrative capacity.
Staff shortages affect multiple environmental institutions
The workforce gap extends across ministries, inspectorates, local authorities, laboratories and institutions responsible for waste management, water resources, air quality, nature protection and industrial pollution. The Centre for Ecotoxicological Research, which carries out laboratory analysis covering pollution, radiation, waste, food safety and workplace conditions, currently employs 60 staff members despite having 80 systematised positions. Although the institution has a staffing shortfall of 20 employees, the reviewed staffing framework does not include additional recruitment for the 2026–2028 period.
Capacity constraints affect environmental permitting
The staffing shortage affects Montenegro’s ability to process environmental permits, monitor emissions, supervise waste management and verify regulatory compliance for projects in the energy, tourism, mining, transport and industrial sectors.
Administrative capacity is also required for reporting obligations to European institutions.
Chapter 27 requires extensive institutional resources
Chapter 27 is regarded as one of the most technically demanding and investment-intensive chapters of the EU accession process. Implementation requires not only legislative alignment but also the development of laboratories, environmental monitoring systems, municipal infrastructure, trained inspectors and systems capable of producing enforceable environmental data.
Montenegro’s investment pipeline includes projects in renewable energy generation, electricity transmission, ski tourism, coastal tourism, wastewater treatment and transport infrastructure, each requiring environmental permitting and ongoing monitoring.
Environmental oversight linked to project financing
Environmental compliance has become increasingly important in project financing. International lenders frequently require environmental and social documentation that extends beyond domestic permitting procedures. Institutional monitoring capacity therefore plays a role in project preparation alongside developer-funded studies, independent audits and lender reporting requirements.
While Montenegro has progressed in advancing EU Chapters 8 and 29 on competition policy and the customs union, implementation of Chapter 27 will require expanded operational capacity across environmental authorities, laboratories and inspection services responsible for monitoring compliance during both construction and operational phases.
