The Montenegrin Parliament concluded discussions on the Spatial Plan of Montenegro (PPCG), which will be in effect until 2040. Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property, Slaven Radunović, rejected opposition demands to withdraw the proposal, insisting the legal procedure was followed and denying claims of a non-transparent process.
Radunović emphasized that all legal requirements, including approval from the Environmental Protection Agency, were met, despite the agency’s opinion arriving shortly before the parliamentary session. He warned that delaying adoption could risk losing €2.3 million in funding.
Opposition parties argued the draft PPCG underwent significant changes after public consultations, especially regarding the Velje Brdo project and plans for Buljarica, which the ministry and plan coordinator Svetlana Jovanović denied. Jovanović stated the draft was only improved and no new strategic directions were introduced; otherwise, a new public debate would be necessary.
Radunović noted that Buljarica and Velika Plaža have long been included in the Master Plan and that no construction is planned directly on beaches, but the hinterland’s development potential should not be ignored.
Critics accused the process of political manipulation and populism. Some opposition members labeled the PPCG as a wish list, while others stressed the need for urban planning reform to address illegal construction and improve housing.
Former Minister Ana Novaković-Đurović criticized the government for tailoring the plan to a prior agreement with the UAE without waiting for the PPCG to be finalized, alleging disregard for proper procedures and transparency. She questioned the inclusion of the Velje Brdo project without necessary studies and raised concerns about construction despite seismic risks.
Regarding the Komarnica Hydropower Plant, Radunović confirmed the project would proceed but with reduced capacity, assuring that environmental impacts on the Nevidio canyon area would be minimized.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including CZIP, Green Home, and others, accused the Environmental Protection Agency of complicity in the illegal adoption of the PPCG. They highlighted that the agency’s approval came only a day before a key parliamentary session and that many of its recommendations were not incorporated into the final plan.
NGOs also criticized the inclusion of major changes after the public consultation phase, such as converting protected areas like Buljarica and Ćemovsko polje into construction zones without legal basis or public input. They condemned the inclusion of the large-scale Velje Brdo urban development project, which contradicts existing spatial policies.
The NGOs called for transparency regarding the approval process and expressed concerns over inconsistencies between the textual and graphical parts of the plan.
