The Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Johann Sattler, took part in the activities of the “Čuvaj da te čuva” campaign in Danilovgrad and Nikšić, together with representatives of local authorities, institutions, the non-governmental sector, activists, and Young European Ambassadors.
The programme began with a road-cleaning initiative in Danilovgrad, where Ambassador Sattler, the President of the Municipality of Danilovgrad, Aleksandar Grgurović, Young European Ambassadors, and local activists participated in removing of waste from a location where significant amounts of illegally disposed of waste had previously been recorded. As part of the initiative, benches, waste bins, and educational and warning signs were installed with the aim of improving public spaces and raise awareness of the importance of responsible environmental protection.
Ambassador Sattler stated that the “Čuvaj da te čuva” campaign had, in less than a year, achieved visible progress in raising citizens’ awareness of environmental protection, but that much work remains to be done. He stressed the importance of continuing and intensifying efforts to remove illegal landfill sites, particularly along busy roads such as the Podgorica–Danilovgrad–Nikšić route. He also highlighted the importance of involving local communities and young people in nature conservation, emphasising that change comes through the active participation of citizens.
“If you ask me whether I am completely satisfied, the answer is no. But if you ask me whether things have changed, the answer is yes. I believe we have taken several very important steps towards permanently changing people’s attitudes to environmental protection,” Ambassador Sattler stated.
The President of the Municipality of Danilovgrad, Aleksandar Grgurović, said that the local administration strongly supports the “Čuvaj da te čuva” campaign and will continue to participate actively in similar initiatives. He pointed out that numerous clean-up actions had been carried out throughout the year, stressing that environmental protection requires the joint commitment of institutions and citizens, as well as the continuous strengthening of awareness regarding proper waste management.
“These are small but highly significant steps. We need to demonstrate the responsibility we all share, particularly those in leadership positions, to take an active role in protecting our environment and nature,” Grgurović said.
The activities then continued in Nikšić, where Ambassador Sattler, together with the Director of the Nikšić Public Utility Company, Nemanja Vuković, the representative of the NGO Society of Young Ecologists Nikšić, Miodrag Karadžić, volunteers, activists, and Young European Ambassadors, took part in another road-cleaning initiative. Following the clean-up, benches, waste bins, warning signs, and surveillance cameras were installed at the site in order to prevent the re-emergence of illegal waste disposal sites.
On this occasion, Ambassador Sattler stated that Montenegro is entering the final phase of its accession to the European Union, which entails significant work in environmental protection. He emphasised that achieving European standards requires strong partnerships among institutions, local communities, utility companies, and civil society, as well as concrete actions to remove illegal landfill sites, improve waste management, and preserve natural resources.
“We are standing alongside one of the busiest roads in Montenegro, which is in many ways a calling card for the country, and that is why we must not allow illegal landfill sites to exist along such major routes. I call on all citizens to join us, because this is their country, one of the most beautiful in Europe, and it deserves to be preserved and protected,” Ambassador Sattler stressed.
The Director of the Nikšić Public Utility Company, Nemanja Vuković, highlighted that the “Čuvaj da te čuva” campaign brings together citizens, institutions, and partners in a joint effort to protect the environment, emphasising that Nikšić is making significant progress through landfill rehabilitation, the development of recycling infrastructure, and the raising of environmental awareness.
“Our town is our reflection. Montenegro is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and there is no justification for irresponsible waste disposal when designated waste disposal sites already exist. I believe that together we will raise public awareness and protect both our town and our country, because by protecting nature today, we are safeguarding the future of our children,” Vuković stated.
The representative of the Society of Young Ecologists Nikšić, Miodrag Karadžić, assessed that Montenegro has made progress in recent years in waste management, both through the development of policies and strategies and through concrete activities on the ground. As a particularly important example, he highlighted the closure of the Mislov Do landfill site in Nikšić, noting that the “Čuvaj da te čuva” campaign had contributed to strengthening environmental awareness and increasing community involvement in the fight against illegal landfill sites.
“At the beginning, we did not expect the campaign to achieve such a broad reach, but today we can see that its centre is expanding from Podgorica to towns across Montenegro. This gives us reason to be optimistic that we will improve waste management and be better prepared for the European standards that await us,” Karadžić said.
As part of the continuation of the programme, Ambassador Sattler and partners visited the Nikšić Public Utility Company, where a cooperation agreement was signed between the “Let’s Green Montenegro” initiative and the Nikšić Public Utility Company.
By signing the agreement, cooperation was established to use digital tools for reporting and rehabilitating illegal landfill sites, with support from the Environmental Protection Agency. During the visit, machinery branded as part of the “Čuvaj da te čuva” campaign was also presented.
This campaign brings together institutions, local communities, civil society organisations, and citizens in a joint effort to make Montenegro a cleaner, more organised, and more sustainable country.