Skopje, 13 September 2021 (MIA) — Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Naser Nuredini hosted Monday a high delegation from Montenegro’s Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism led by Minister Ratko Mitrović. Topics at the meeting included “experiences and examples of good practices in waste management, with special emphasis on solid waste and wastewater management; management of national parks and protected areas; and challenges in financing environmental infrastructure projects,” according to an official press release. According to the release, the environmental ministers highlighted the need in both countries for an Environmental Protection Agency “to relieve the ministries of local problems and operational activities, to protect certain species of plants and animals, etc.,” with Nuredini saying he expected such an agency would soon be formed in North Macedonia. Minister Mitrović agreed the two ministries had insufficient administrative staff in municipalities to tackle major projects regarding the protection of water, air and waste, the release notes. Minister Nuredini also spoke about strategies for spatial planning, presenting the new Spatial Plan of the Republic of North Macedonia to his Montenegrin counterpart and asking about Montenegro’s experiences in spatial planning and legalization of buildings in protected areas. Nuredini and Mitrović discussed European integration processes, as well. North Macedonia's environment minister said the national legislation was in the process of being aligned with the EU’s environmental law. He also expressed readiness to share experiences regarding the country’s challenges on its EU path. Montenegro’s environment minister said the meeting was a good start to a cooperation between the two ministries and would contribute to improving the work of both institutions, the release adds. mr/