1. Introduction

Montenegro is located in the South-Eastern Europe with 623.000 inhabitants which live on 13.912 km [1]. Following the results of the referendum withheld on May 21, 2006, Montenegro regained independence and became the 192nd member of the United Nations. The economy of Montenegro is mostly service-based: about two thirds of GDP and more than 80% of employment are in the service sector in the last few years. Economic growth model is driven mostly by foreign direct investments since average net FDI in the period 2006–2016 is 17.1% [2]. Country is in the late transition to a market economy and strategic development sectors are tourism, energy, industry and agriculture with rural development. Estimated GDP for 2017 is 4.202 mil € with real growth rate of 4% [3]. According to the Statistical office data GDP/pc in 2016 is 6.063 € [1]. Measuring GDP/pc in PPS, Montenegro has reached 42% of the EU average in 2016. targets and SDG indicators, as well as their accompanying political declaration make it clear that countries are expected to make this national interpretation—setting their own goals, targets and priorities for implementing the SDGs, in response to national conditions and capabilities [9]. In March 2016, a global indicator framework for the SDGs—identified and proposed by the Inter-Agency Expert Group on SDG indicators (IEAG-SDGs)—was agreed by the 47th Session of the UN Statistical Commission [10]. This framework constitutes a key element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development's implementing architecture and is composed of 241 indicators for

Agenda 2030: Measuring Progress in the Montenegro's National Strategy for Sustainable Development…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75001

65

On July 7, 2016 Montenegro's NSSD 2030 was adopted by the Montenegrin government. Montenegro became one of the first UN member countries to conduct a national review of its process to implement the global Agenda 2030 within the national policy context. The voluntary national reviews were conducted by 22 pilot countries and presented at the High-Level

A periodic national monitoring report is needed to track progress and—depending on the political ambition—to promote accountability by explaining underlying developments or even to evaluate policy performance [8]. For these reasons, Montenegro's NSSD is accompanied with its Action plan which includes thematic areas, goals, measures, sub-measures, baseline indicators, targeted values and a proposed list of numerous indicators to measure progress in implementing the Strategy (SDG indicators, some national indicators, some indicators from the database of different international organizations and a few so-called composite indicators, such as Ecological footprint, Domestic material consumption, Lend consumption, Resource

The second part presents the research framework for measuring progress in the NSSD 2030 action plan through development of three research hypothesis. The third part presents Montenegro's NSSD revision through the prism of setting-up an integrated monitoring system for the NSSD, while the fourth part presents results of mapping and content analysis of all indicators. They encompass four groups: SDG indicators, national, international – from different databases, and proposed composite indicators. In the fifth part an analysis of needs necessities importance and main challenges of an integrated monitoring framework is presented. The focus of this part is on the analysis of complementarities between Montenegro's 2030 Agenda and the EU integration agenda. Finally, in the sixth part authors summarize the content of the chapter

2. Research framework for measuring progress in the NSSD 2030 action

Among the various steps, during the process of NSSD 2030 design, was the development of the NSSD monitoring and reporting framework. This paper is focused on analysis of the quality and capability of the developed monitoring and reporting framework in order to contribute to the preparation of regular reporting documents. At the same time, it is necessary to explain inter-linkages of the SDGs (UN agenda) and current European integration agenda of

monitoring global progress towards the SDGs.

Political Forum (HLPF) 2016 meeting [6].

productivity, Environmental performance index, etc.).

and main policy recommendations as conclusion.

plan

Diversity of geological base, landscape, climate and soil, as well as the very position of Montenegro on the Balkan peninsula and Adriatic sea, created conditions for formation of biological diversity with very high values, that puts Montenegro among biological "hot-spots" of Europe and world biodiversity [4].

Decisions to have Montenegro developed as an ecological state requires dedication, endurance, bold decisions and significant financial investments. Declaration of the Ecological state of Montenegro, adopted by Montenegrin Assembly on September 20, 1991, emphasizes that "by respecting our obligation to the nature which is the source of our health and inspiration of our freedom and culture, we turn ourselves to the protection of the mother nature, in the name of our own survival and the future of our successors." Following that decision, Constitution of Montenegro from 1992 contains definition of Montenegro as "an ecological state" and the same was confirmed in the Constitution from 2007, after regaining the independence. "Montenegro is a civil, democratic, ecological and the state of social justice, based on the rule of law" is prescribed in the article 1 of Montenegro's Constitution [5].

The Government of Montenegro adopted the first National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) in April 2007, together with a corresponding Action Plan for the period of 2007– 2012. During its implementation period, the Government adopted five annual progress reports on the NSSD implementation. The monitoring and evaluation results indicated that the respectable progress has been achieved—environmental pillar score 47%, social development score 65% and economic development pillar score 49%, respectively, in average about 53% of 236 planned measures from the 2007 NSSD Action plan was realized by 2013 [6]. The final estimation about implementation level was about 60% of proposed strategic measures. These measures have been modified and transposed in the new NSSD 2030.

At the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets—to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change [7]. The Agenda 2030 calls on governments to translate the global SDGs into national targets and policies. The task of national governments is to set a level of ambition and formulate a clear, long-term vision defining what they would like to achieve with the 2030 Agenda [8]. The SDGs, targets and SDG indicators, as well as their accompanying political declaration make it clear that countries are expected to make this national interpretation—setting their own goals, targets and priorities for implementing the SDGs, in response to national conditions and capabilities [9]. In March 2016, a global indicator framework for the SDGs—identified and proposed by the Inter-Agency Expert Group on SDG indicators (IEAG-SDGs)—was agreed by the 47th Session of the UN Statistical Commission [10]. This framework constitutes a key element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development's implementing architecture and is composed of 241 indicators for monitoring global progress towards the SDGs.

1. Introduction

64 Statistics - Growing Data Sets and Growing Demand for Statistics

and world biodiversity [4].

Montenegro is located in the South-Eastern Europe with 623.000 inhabitants which live on 13.912 km [1]. Following the results of the referendum withheld on May 21, 2006, Montenegro regained independence and became the 192nd member of the United Nations. The economy of Montenegro is mostly service-based: about two thirds of GDP and more than 80% of employment are in the service sector in the last few years. Economic growth model is driven mostly by foreign direct investments since average net FDI in the period 2006–2016 is 17.1% [2]. Country is in the late transition to a market economy and strategic development sectors are tourism, energy, industry and agriculture with rural development. Estimated GDP for 2017 is 4.202 mil € with real growth rate of 4% [3]. According to the Statistical office data GDP/pc in 2016 is 6.063 € [1]. Measuring GDP/pc in PPS, Montenegro has reached 42% of the EU average in 2016.

Diversity of geological base, landscape, climate and soil, as well as the very position of Montenegro on the Balkan peninsula and Adriatic sea, created conditions for formation of biological diversity with very high values, that puts Montenegro among biological "hot-spots" of Europe

Decisions to have Montenegro developed as an ecological state requires dedication, endurance, bold decisions and significant financial investments. Declaration of the Ecological state of Montenegro, adopted by Montenegrin Assembly on September 20, 1991, emphasizes that "by respecting our obligation to the nature which is the source of our health and inspiration of our freedom and culture, we turn ourselves to the protection of the mother nature, in the name of our own survival and the future of our successors." Following that decision, Constitution of Montenegro from 1992 contains definition of Montenegro as "an ecological state" and the same was confirmed in the Constitution from 2007, after regaining the independence. "Montenegro is a civil, democratic, ecological and the state of social justice, based on the rule of law" is

The Government of Montenegro adopted the first National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) in April 2007, together with a corresponding Action Plan for the period of 2007– 2012. During its implementation period, the Government adopted five annual progress reports on the NSSD implementation. The monitoring and evaluation results indicated that the respectable progress has been achieved—environmental pillar score 47%, social development score 65% and economic development pillar score 49%, respectively, in average about 53% of 236 planned measures from the 2007 NSSD Action plan was realized by 2013 [6]. The final estimation about implementation level was about 60% of proposed strategic measures. These measures have been

At the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets—to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change [7]. The Agenda 2030 calls on governments to translate the global SDGs into national targets and policies. The task of national governments is to set a level of ambition and formulate a clear, long-term vision defining what they would like to achieve with the 2030 Agenda [8]. The SDGs,

prescribed in the article 1 of Montenegro's Constitution [5].

modified and transposed in the new NSSD 2030.

On July 7, 2016 Montenegro's NSSD 2030 was adopted by the Montenegrin government. Montenegro became one of the first UN member countries to conduct a national review of its process to implement the global Agenda 2030 within the national policy context. The voluntary national reviews were conducted by 22 pilot countries and presented at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2016 meeting [6].

A periodic national monitoring report is needed to track progress and—depending on the political ambition—to promote accountability by explaining underlying developments or even to evaluate policy performance [8]. For these reasons, Montenegro's NSSD is accompanied with its Action plan which includes thematic areas, goals, measures, sub-measures, baseline indicators, targeted values and a proposed list of numerous indicators to measure progress in implementing the Strategy (SDG indicators, some national indicators, some indicators from the database of different international organizations and a few so-called composite indicators, such as Ecological footprint, Domestic material consumption, Lend consumption, Resource productivity, Environmental performance index, etc.).

The second part presents the research framework for measuring progress in the NSSD 2030 action plan through development of three research hypothesis. The third part presents Montenegro's NSSD revision through the prism of setting-up an integrated monitoring system for the NSSD, while the fourth part presents results of mapping and content analysis of all indicators. They encompass four groups: SDG indicators, national, international – from different databases, and proposed composite indicators. In the fifth part an analysis of needs necessities importance and main challenges of an integrated monitoring framework is presented. The focus of this part is on the analysis of complementarities between Montenegro's 2030 Agenda and the EU integration agenda. Finally, in the sixth part authors summarize the content of the chapter and main policy recommendations as conclusion.
