Urgent Formation of a Steering Committee for the Ulcinj Saltworks and Securing Stable Funding

The Ulcinj Saltworks, although formally protected, still lacks both a steering committee and financial resources, which threatens its restoration and unique ecosystem. It is therefore necessary to urgently establish a steering committee and ensure stable funding for sustainable management, adequate nature protection, and alignment with European Union standards.

This was the message from the first part of the Ninth International Conference on the Protection of the Ulcinj Saltworks, organised by the Centre for the Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP).

The Ambassador of Germany to Montenegro, Peter Felten, said that the Ulcinj Saltworks is an ecosystem of European and even global importance, and that it is a privilege for Montenegro to be home to a habitat of global ecological importance. 

“That is a great responsibility, not only in the context of Chapter 27, but also towards our planet and future generations,” said Felten.

He emphasised that the key issue is establishing a steering committee for the Saltworks, which would enable meeting the closing benchmarks for Chapter 27 and mobilising around €15 million from IPA funds. 

“Such a committee would enable Montenegro to manage the Saltworks comprehensively – to protect its ecological values, restore salt production, develop tourism and cooperation with local businesses, and create new jobs,” Felten stressed.

He believes that negotiations between the Government of Montenegro and the Municipality of Ulcinj on the establishment of this committee have been ongoing for too long, without concrete results.

“Frankly, we no longer understand why this is not happening. For years, it has been said that the agreement is almost ready, yet it has never been signed. Whether the problem is legal, a matter of principle, or narrow interests, we do not know,” said Felten.

He noted that the issue of land ownership can only be resolved by the state and that it should not be used as an excuse for delay.

“I hope that at the tenth international conference next year, all stakeholders will be able to look back and say that they have set up a framework for the sustainable management of the Saltworks and better environmental protection. The German Government and civil society will continue to be reliable partners of Montenegro, as they have been so far,” concluded Felten.

The Executive Director of CZIP, Jovana Janjušević, said that despite the long tradition of this conference, there is no reason for celebration.

She reminded that the fate of the Saltworks is of key importance for Montenegro’s accession to the European Union.

Speaking about the current situation, Janjušević pointed out that the Saltworks is “ailing” for the sixth time due to the absence of a steering committee, which by law should have been appointed five years ago.

“Although a promise was made last year that the steering committee would be established, to this day, CZIP has no information from the relevant ministries regarding the conditions that the Municipality of Ulcinj submitted for further action,” said Janjušević.

She stressed that the remediation works carried out by CZIP in previous years will not yield adequate results without a legally appointed steering committee and the necessary budgetary funds.

Janjušević also pointed out a series of concrete problems.

“Despite the fact that the Saltworks is currently not producing salt, it still pays electricity at industrial tariffs. The peripheral and main embankments are overgrown with vegetation to the extent that ornithologists cannot perform regular monitoring; the crystallisation ponds are at risk, the pump is barely functioning, and invasive vegetation is spreading,” Janjušević stated.

To at least address these issues, CZIP was forced to intervene, organising the purchase of a tractor with a mulcher to clear and open the terrain, both  birds and people.

During the first session, ‘The Year Behind Us – A Year of Small Steps and Long Waiting’, CZIP’s Programme Director, Ksenija Medenica, pointed out that the key problems threatening this protected area remain unresolved.

She emphasised that the issue of the Saltworks’ steering committee has not been resolved for a long time, and the issue of ownership also remains open.

“For this reason, many planned activities have been halted: remediation works that would prevent further deterioration of the embankments have not been continued, even though earlier initiatives had been started. The Ministry has developed a project proposal for IPA funds, hoping that from next year, funds for the necessary restoration will become available — but nothing concrete has yet been done,” said Medenica.

Speaking from the perspective of the administrator, the Director of the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro (JPNPCG), Marinela Đuretić, reminded that this company has held the status of a temporary lessee of the Ulcinj Saltworks since 2015.

According to her, the most significant challenges in management relate to the payment of land lease fees and the high costs of maintaining the site.

“From 2015 until today, we have been paying rent to the bankruptcy administration for about €2,500 per month, which represents a significant annual expense for us,” said Đuretić.

She pointed out that an additional problem is the absence of a legally regulated basis for managing this area.