Sixth Major Action of the 'Čuvaj da te čuva' Campaign in Kotor

The EU Ambassador to Montenegro, Johan Sattler, the Mayor of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, civil society organisations Ljuta kamilica, Čista Gora, Expeditio, Ozelenimo Crnu Goru and other partner organisations, together with local associations, children and environmental activists, took part today in a large-scale clean-up action at the Grabovac Fortress site in the Grbaljsko Polje area under the national environmental campaign "Čuvaj da te čuva". The activity was carried out with the support of the Kotor Municipal Public Utility Company, with the aim of preparing the site for the installation of a video-surveillance system, information boards and shaded viewpoints with resting areas, thereby contributing to the long-term preservation of this valuable location.

This action, together with the visit to several remediated and priority locations in the presence of Ambassador Sattler and representatives of the Police Directorate, as well as the infrastructural measures implemented by the Municipality of Kotor, represents its contribution to the national "Čuvaj da te čuva" environmental campaign. The focus of these efforts is to improve environmental conditions and address the long-standing challenge of inadequate waste management, which affects not only nature, land and public health, but also the cultural landscape of Kotor - an area of significant European historical heritage.

Copyright: Evropska kuća

Today's field activities provided a more comprehensive overview of the situation on the ground and the progress of remediation efforts. Such assessments are an essential prerequisite for effective planning and implementation of the next steps within the remit of local and national institutions. In this context, it was underlined that the successful prevention of illegal waste disposal requires the consistent application of existing regulations, as well as coordinated engagement of all relevant actors - institutions, local authorities and citizens. In this way, the sustainability of measures already undertaken is strengthened and the risk of renewed degradation of remediated areas is reduced.

Copyright: Evropska kuća

This visit marks the sixth major clean-up action within the campaign over the past six months. The results of the campaign are increasingly visible - from the remediation of numerous environmental hotspots and the installation of infrastructure that prevents their renewed degradation, to the growing public awareness of responsible land and space management. The campaign brings together an increasing number of institutions, municipalities, civil society organisations, private companies and citizens, linking practical action, institutional commitment and community engagement. In doing so, it creates the conditions for long-term solutions in the field of environmental protection, while also supporting Montenegro in meeting its obligations under the EU accession process.

During his stay in Kotor, Ambassador Sattler also visited the EU Info Point operating under the EU-funded "Communities for EU" project, which works to strengthen public awareness and citizen engagement in European integration processes.