The Environmental Protection Agency is an administration body, competent for environmental protection affairs. Agency has the following competencies:

1. Issues licenses;
2. Performs monitoring;
3. Drafts analysis and reports;
4. Performs environmental inspection; 
5. Communicates with relevant domestic and international bodies and organizations, as well as with the public

6. Performs other affairs defined by this law and special regulations.

Assets of the Fund for Environmental Protection

Assets that are used for projects and other activities aimed at environmental protection are provided from the Environmental Protection Fund.

I ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAW AND BASIC PROVISIONS

("Official Gazette of Montenegro", no.48/08 from 11/08/2008)

This law regulates: principles of environmental protection and sustainable development, entities and instruments of environmental protection, the public participation with regard to environment issues and other issues of importance for the environment. (Article 1) 

Integrated Environment Management

The State especially protects the environment. (Article 2) 

Environmental Protection

Environmental Protection is implemented according to principles of environmental protection and instruments of environmental protection prescribed by this law and special regulations. (Article 3)

Environmental Protection Principles (Article 4)

Environmental Protection Principles are:
* A principle of sustainable development (paragraph 1)
* A principle of integrated approach to environmental protection (paragraph 2)
* A principle of preservation of natural resources (paragraph 3)
* A principle of cooperation  (paragraph 4)
* A principle of pollutants (paragraph 5)
* A principle of compulsory insurance (paragraph 7)
* A principle of prevention (paragraph 8)
* A principle of precaution (paragraph 9)
* A principle of subsidiary responsibility (paragraph 10)
* A principle of application of incentives (paragraph 11)
* A principle of information access and public participation (paragraph 12)

II ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENTITIES (Article 7)

Environmental protection entities are:
1. Public bodies;
2. Public administration bodies;
3. Local governance units;
4. Foreign and domestic legal and physical persons;
5. Non-governmental organizations;
6. Citizens and association of citizens.

Obligations of Entities
Environmental protection entities are obliged, within their rights and obligations, to ensure control and prevention of all forms of pollution and environmental degradation. (Article 8)

Non-governmental Organizations
The Country encourages participation of non-governmental organizations in environmental preservation, in compliance with their programmes and defined regulations. (Article 12)

III DOCUMENTS RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

* National sustainable development strategy;
* National environmental protection program;
* Local environmental protection plans;
* Strategy plans and programs which have been and are adopted according to special regulations in particular areas for particular segments of the environment and duties. (Article 13)
The Government adopts the National Sustainable Development Strategy for the period of four years. (Article 15)
The Government adopts the National Environmental Protection Programme for the period of four years. 
The Agency proposes the National List of Environmental Indicators to the Government based on which a Report on the State of the Environment is drafted for the Montenegrin territory.
The Agency drafts a Report on the State of the Environment and submits it to the Ministry. (Article 19)

IV ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INSTRUMENTS
1. Standards of the environment quality;
2. Technical standards of environmental protection;
3. Strategic environmental impact assessment (EIA);
4. EIA;
5. Environmental protection measures for projects for which EIA obligation is not prescribed;
6. Integrated pollution prevention and control;
7. Prevention and control of accidents including dangerous substances;
8. Physical plans;
9. Environment management system (EMAS);
10. Emergency measures in particular cases of pollution exceeding allowed limits;
11. Other instruments of environmental protection established by special regulations

(Article 12)