A coalition of environmental activists, civil society organizations as representatives of four Digital Spark grantees met at BIRN Montenegro premises in Podgorica to launch an advocacy effort focused on strengthening environmental reporting mechanisms and increasing citizen participation in environmental protection.
During the workshop, advocacy partners presented their ideas, experiences, and proposed actions aimed at establishing a National EKO Line for Environmental Reporting, a centralized and accessible mechanism that would allow citizens to anonymously report environmental problems through a single reporting channel.
Advocates proposed the creation of a National EKO Line that would serve as a nationwide reporting system where environmental complaints could be submitted anonymously and efficiently. Under the proposed model, every report would be officially registered, forwarded to the competent authority, monitored throughout the resolution process, and followed by a formal response. The mechanism would operate under a clear institutional protocol defining the responsibilities of all relevant institutions involved in receiving and processing environmental reports.
The advocacy campaign is directed primarily toward the Ministry of Ecology and the Bureau for Operational Coordination of Security Services, encouraging these institutions to lead the establishment and coordination of the proposed mechanism. The initiative has already attracted support from environmental organizations, activists, local civil society groups, media representatives, and community stakeholders across Montenegro.
As part of the campaign, the advocacy coalition plans to launch a citizen petition calling for the establishment of the National EKO Line and to organize consultations with environmental activists and organizations in Kotor, Podgorica and Rožaje. These activities will help identify local environmental reporting challenges and strengthen cooperation among stakeholders from different regions of the country.
Participants emphasized that a transparent, citizen-friendly, and accountable reporting system would strengthen environmental protection, improve institutional responsiveness, and enhance public trust in the ability of authorities to address environmental concerns effectively.
Alongside the advocacy workshop, the Metamorphosis Foundation team conducted monitoring and coordination meetings with Digital Spark partners in Kotor, Rožaje, and Podgorica. Beyond reviewing project implementation, these meetings provided an opportunity to deepen collaboration, exchange experiences, identify emerging challenges, and ensure that partner organizations receive the support needed to maximize the impact of their initiatives in local communities.
Through this joint advocacy effort, environmental organizations and activists aim to ensure that every environmental report receives a timely response and that citizens have a simple, reliable, and trusted mechanism for protecting Montenegro’s environment.
The meetings also reinforced the regional cooperation at the core of the Regional Support Mechanism EECA, connecting organizations across Eastern Europe and Central Asia that are advancing digital rights, civic participation, and democratic resilience through collaborative action and knowledge-sharing.
The visits were conducted as part of the Regional Support Mechanism EECA project, implemented by Metamorphosis Foundation and TechSoup, in partnership with CIVICUS and under the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) that covers the Global South.
