Montenegro’s national parks have showcased a series of projects supported by European Union funding, highlighting how international financial assistance is being used to modernise protected area management, improve biodiversity conservation, and strengthen cooperation with regional partners. The public enterprise responsible for national parks organised an information day in the European House in Podgorica to present the initiatives to stakeholders, partners, and the public and to explain the practical benefits these programmes bring to both protected areas and local communities.
The meeting focused on the LASPEH 2.0 project, which aims to enhance the protection of priority habitats and species within the protected regions of the Southern Adriatic. Alongside this, park officials outlined a suite of other EU-supported initiatives designed to align Montenegro’s protected area management with contemporary European practices. These efforts reflect the central role that EU funding plays in supporting modern conservation approaches, capacity building within park administrations, and the implementation of concrete measures directly on the ground.
The director of the Public Enterprise for National Parks of Montenegro emphasised that participating in international projects and partnerships is not an auxiliary activity but a strategic tool for development. By securing EU-backed support, the parks aim to strengthen their capacity to manage ecosystems effectively, improve biodiversity protection, and align their activities with European environmental standards. The director noted that such partnerships position Montenegro’s national parks as active contributors to transnational conservation efforts and enhance the visibility of their work beyond national borders.
According to officials responsible for projects and international cooperation within the parks enterprise, nearly thirty project proposals were submitted in 2025, and seven projects with EU or international funding are currently being implemented, with a combined value approaching €1 million. Park representatives emphasised that these projects extend well beyond bureaucratic exercises, delivering tangible benefits such as improved ecological monitoring, enhanced administrative capacity, and stronger local engagement in conservation actions.
Representatives from Montenegro’s Ministry of Finance also addressed the audience, underlining the importance of robust and reliable cost control in EU-funded programmes. As the national control authority for programmes such as Interreg South Adriatic and other cross-border initiatives, the ministry stressed that proper financial governance is essential to maintaining trust and ensuring the long-term sustainability of funded projects.
A key theme of the information day was the role of cross-border and territorial cooperation. Presentations highlighted opportunities under several regional Interreg programmes, including those covering the South Adriatic, the Danube region, and the Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina–Montenegro tri-national area. These programmes prioritise environmentally focused initiatives, knowledge exchange, and network building among institutions across borders. By participating in these frameworks, Montenegro’s parks aim to strengthen ecosystem resilience and bring contemporary European practices into their day-to-day management of protected areas.
Among the projects showcased were PA.CON II, which focuses on sustainable tourism and ecological connectivity, and ForestConnect, an initiative dedicated to climate-smart forest connectivity for large carnivores across the Balkan-Carpathian-Dinaric region. Other initiatives highlighted included collaborative research and innovation activities under the Horizon Europe framework, as well as monitoring and ecological field measures designed to assist local biodiversity.
Civil society actors also contributed to the discussion, underlining the value of including non-governmental organisations in project planning and implementation. Leaders of environmental NGOs emphasised that the best conservation outcomes emerge when institutional capacities, scientific expertise, and grassroots experience converge. They argued that expanding partnerships between public entities and civil society is essential to ensure that EU funds translate into measurable improvements for protected areas, effective environmental education, and sustainable benefits for both nature and neighbouring communities.
Overall, the presentation of EU-supported projects by Montenegro’s national parks illustrates a growing integration of international funding mechanisms with national conservation strategies, with a focus on resilience, cross-border cooperation, and the practical application of modern conservation tools to protect the country’s rich natural heritage.
