The Environmental Inspectorate of Montenegro carried out a total of 691 inspections from January 1 to June 30, 2025, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Region Development announced. During these inspections, 244 violations were identified, and numerous legal proceedings were initiated against offenders, including 26 criminal charges for more serious breaches of environmental legislation.
Of the total number of inspections, 295 were routine, 289 were prompted by citizen and institutional reports, and 107 were follow-up controls. To address the identified issues, inspectors issued 135 warnings, enacted 63 decisions, submitted 26 requests for misdemeanor proceedings, and imposed 16 fines amounting to a total of €29,050.
Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Region Development, Damjan Ćulafić, emphasized that these results were achieved by a small yet highly dedicated team of just seven inspectors working daily in the field.
“Despite frequent criticism and attempts to undermine the work of the inspectorate, the data tells a different story. The Environmental Inspectorate acts promptly, decisively, and in accordance with its legal authorities,” Minister Ćulafić stated.
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The most common violations included operating without required environmental permits, illegal discharge of wastewater, unauthorized activities in protected areas, improper conditions for keeping protected species, and emissions of gases from industrial facilities exceeding legal standards.
A significant number of offenses were also identified in the areas of waste management, failure to comply with environmental impact assessments, lack of monitoring, exceeding noise limits, and failure to report data on polluters.
In the field of radiation safety, reported irregularities included uncontrolled use of ionizing radiation sources, failure to conduct mandatory workplace assessments, and issues in the storage and trade of hazardous chemicals.
The Environmental Inspectorate announced continued intensive activities in the coming period, aiming to enhance environmental responsibility, reduce health risks, and ensure full enforcement of environmental regulations.
Minister Ćulafić also reminded the public that 1,831 inspections were conducted in the entirety of 2024, underlining that environmental protection is not a matter of choice, but a legal and moral obligation—with the inspectorate serving as the first line of defense against irresponsible behavior toward nature.
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