A recent article on CNN.com describes Montenegro as "the latest hotspot in the former Yugoslavia." It reports that second-home buyers and investors have been pouring money into the country since it declared independence from Serbia last year, the luxury hotel chain Amanresorts is restoring the resort island of Sveti Stefan and infrastructure is being upgraded. Montenegro is certainly seeing rapid changes. Yet, the article concludes, you don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy this beautiful, fascinating country - travel is cheap and so is the rather delicious local food and wine.

This week the Montenegrin government announced that an Agency for the Environment will be established in Montenegro. Its main task will be to ensure that the laws and policies adopted by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment are implemented, and to better monitor the environment.

Montenegro made a pledge in 1991 to adopt an ecologically protective policy but the country's poor infrastructure has made progress slow. The decision to establish the Agency was taken in line with the agenda for economic reforms until the end of 2007 and as a part of cooperation with the EU and its European Agency for Reconstruction. The Agency will be financed from the budget, but it will also raise revenue from environmental charges and penalties.

The final organizational structure will be defined after the adoption of a new environmental law, expected by the end of this year.