October 9, 2019 - Cooperation between the URA Civic Movement and European Greens has been ongoing for over a year. MEPs have repeatedly called for the protection of Montenegro's natural beauties in the European Parliament, of which the issue of the Tara was particularly problematic. The delegation of European Greens, led by Thomas Weiss, paid a working visit to Montenegro from 26 to 31 August. During that visit, the first steps were taken, and closer cooperation between URA and European Greens was considered.
The Committee of the European Greens was very pleased with Thomas Weiss's report on his working visit to Montenegro. The Greens of Europe have expressed their willingness and interest to work more closely with the URA Civic Movement on a common green agenda, the fight for the environment, and the fight against corruption. The European Greens have made an official invitation to the URA for Green Europe Association membership. The URA also received an invitation to attend the European Greens Congress in Tampere in November this year.
In the coming days, it is expected that the Main Board of the URA Civic Movement and the Presidency of that party will decide for the URA to enter the application process for membership of the Green Europe Association.
URA states that they inherit the same values as the Greens of Europe and that this is not only environmental protection and sustainable development but also protection of human rights, the rule of law, a free society, professional and independent institutions.
The European Greens are a party that is a significant expansion in the European Union (EU). Germany, which is the most influential and most important member of the EU, has seen particularly strong growth. They improved their result from the previous European Parliament (EP) elections by almost 30%. From the last 50 seats, they had previously increased to about 70, but that number will continue to grow after the UK leaves the EU.
According to polls, the Greens in Germany have about 26 percent of support, and they are individually the most influential party with a high chance that they are the next Chancellor. In the recent elections in Austria, the Greens won about 14 percent of the vote and are the biggest surprise and the party with the most significant increase in support.
Greens, unlike some other groups, are pursuing an EU enlargement policy and affirming efforts to make the Balkans part of the European Union.
The European Greens' delegation led by Thomas Weiss paid a working visit to Montenegro from 26 to 31 August at the invitation of the URA Civic Movement. During this period, the delegation visited Ulcinj Salina, Cetinje, Lovcen, Tara, Lake Biograd, Black Lake, Zabljak, Bukovica, and Sinjajevina. During the visit to the natural beauties of Montenegro and ecological foci, the importance of environmental protection was discussed; problems were addressed with the construction of mini-hydro power plants, but the devastation of rivers and mountains. It was concluded that only through joint efforts can we stand up for our natural treasures and that this should be a continuous process for the sake of sustainable development and a better life for all future generations of our country's citizens.
During their visit, the Greens said that the URA, the civilian sector, and civic activists are not alone in the fight to preserve Montenegro's natural beauties. The importance of closer cooperation between civil society, local people, and political parties in the battle for nature conservation was particularly emphasized.
During the Greens' visit, the URA organized two working lunches in Ulcinj and Zabljak, where NGOs and civic activists involved in environmental protection spoke with members of the delegation.
MEP Thomas Weiss said during the visit that he sees the Green URU as "a pro-European party initiated by the fight for human rights and civil society and the fight to tackle environmental problems". Weiss specifically said he was pleasantly surprised by the close cooperation between ERO and the civilian sector.
The URA used the visit of the Greens to introduce them to the natural beauty and tourist potential of Montenegro. Take a look through the lenses of the cameras that capture those most beautiful landscapes and moments.
Particular emphasis was placed on the devastation of the Tara River and the planned construction of a military training ground in Sinjajevina.
Representatives of the Greens stated after visiting the Tara River that the riverbed was devastated by narrowing the riverbed, creating artificial dikes, that in some places there was a change in the river's, so that in one part of it completely changes the flow.
When visiting the Tara River, Thomas Weiss said he "wondered how Montenegro could handle Chapter 27 with this kind of environmental devastation." When visiting Sinjajevina, Weiss noted that the mountain should not be turned into a military training ground, but that it should be used for agricultural development and tourism. He stated that Sinajevina had an incredible landscape and that it is the second-largest pasture in Europe, which is why it must be preserved from devastation.
