Institutional framework for sustainable development established

The Montenegrin Cabinet, at its session held on 23 December 2021, adopted an extremely important Decision regarding the improvement of the institutional framework for sustainable development, which clearly confirms the Government's commitment to implementing the idea of an ecological state in practice. This Decision fulfills the strategic goal related to the implementation of the reform of the institutional organisation of the sustainable development management system, which was set by the adoption of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development until 2030, in July 2016.

By adopting the Decree on Amendments to the Decree on the Organisation and Manner of Work of the State Administration and the Decree on Amendments to the Decree on the Secretariat General of the Government of Montenegro, the current Department for Sustainable Development in the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism will be transformed into the Office for Sustainable Development within the Secretariat General of the Government. The adoption of the Decision on the formation of the National Council for Sustainable Development, an advisory body to the Government, established the institutional framework for sustainable development that enables faster and more complete implementation of public policies and development projects based on the principles of sustainable development.

In this way, Montenegro shows a proactive role and further reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development until 2030 and joins the countries that have given their expert national councils for sustainable development a critical role in implementing and achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The goals of sustainable development require the engagement of all stakeholders. The involvement of representatives of the academic and scientific community, business and civil society, vulnerable and marginalised groups, will allow the voice of all relevant actors in society to be heard and enable their meaningful participation in the decision-making process. For this reason, the National Council, headed by the Prime Minister, will be a platform for fruitful and inclusive dialogue at all levels, further strengthened by the expert secretariat - the Office for Sustainable Development, which will thus gain a horizontal and coordinating role in the context of monitoring the adoption and implementation of public policies.

In addition, the National Council will work in particular on:

• improving the communication strategy for sustainable development, in a way that further engages and informs the public, as well as encourages a broader discussion on issues related to sustainable development;
• encouraging and promoting research and research studies, education, training, technology exchange and the exchange of knowledge and skills relevant to sustainable development, as well as capacity building for sustainable development at the national level;
• establishing and enhancing partnerships with development partners and organisations, the private sector, academia and other relevant actors in order to provide support for sustainable development and
• supporting initiatives related to sustainable green and equitable transition leaving no one behind (green economy, innovation and technology, circular economy, blue economy, cleaner production and consumption, social responsibility, climate change, biodiversity conservation and biosafety, healthy lifestyles, gender equality and the like).