By all parameters, 2023 was a year of prosperity for the Environmental Protection Fund: a year of financial consolidation, new projects, and fruitful international cooperation. This cooperation created a synergistic effect on the economy and citizens, who recognized Eco-Fund as a loyal partner who cares not only about environmental protection but also about their needs and expectations.
When it comes to cooperation with local self-government units, we are convinced that the year ahead will bring progress, and the map of cooperation will be drawn towards each of them. In 2023, subsidies totaling 900,000 euros were provided to local self-government units through public tenders for the realization of a project to remove waste thrown into the environment, the procurement of communal equipment and devices for waste management, and the design, arrangement, and maintenance of green areas.
Being aware of the importance of the NGO sector as a social corrective that Montenegro needs, during this year, the Eco-Fund implemented a support program through subsidies for environmental protection, preservation, and improvement projects of €60,000.00
The citizens and their needs are the focus of the Fund's program policy. Hence, the journey from idea to implementation of subsidies for replacing household appliances with energy-efficient devices, existing street lighting with LED lamps, and business facilities intended for the economy, procurement of energy-efficient vehicles for businesses and entrepreneurs, natural persons, and the economy for 950,000 euros.
The end of the year will also be marked by the finalization of competition for subsidies to business people, entrepreneurs, and the public sector for the procurement of charging stations for electric and hybrid vehicles, the installation of photovoltaic systems on local self-government facilities, the installation/replacement of boilers, and the procurement of energy-efficient vehicles for the public sector, in the amount of 450,000 euros.
The management of this institution constantly works to strengthen the revenue side and institutional regulation, which can only be fully achieved through the passing of the Law on Eco-Fund, which will complete the process of its establishment, giving it a deserving place in society.
Realizing the importance of education expressed through audiovisual content, especially for the young people we are leaving the country to inherit, the Eco-Fund provided subsidies for media content production projects on the environment and climate change.
The battle for a more humane and cleaner environment starts with us today, so our habits and aspirations must look toward the future. The burden of change is the heaviest, but it is also the only path for ecological Montenegro that has no alternative for our sake and for the sake of generations to come.
"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success" - Henry Ford.
Your Eco-Fund.