Strong local communities are essential for successful European integration — this was the key message that resonated throughout this year's "Enlargement Day", held on 28 May 2025 in Brussels. The event brought together representatives of local and regional authorities, European institutions, and the expert community to discuss key issues such as decentralisation and the energy transition—areas that form the foundation of a successful EU accession path for candidate countries, including Montenegro.
The delegation of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro consisted of: Radoš Žugić, president of the Governing Board of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro and president of the Municipality of Žabljak, Petar Smolović, president of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, Samir Agović, president of the Municipality of Petnjica, and Vida Ivanović, president of the Municipal Assembly of Berane.
The plenary session was opened by Nikola Dobroslavić, Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, who stressed that the enlargement process must be merit-based and driven by tangible results, particularly in the area of the rule of law and with full respect for local democracy. He was joined by Marek Prawda, the deputy minister of foreign affairs of Poland, as well as Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, who, in a video message, emphasized that local communities are key actors in the enlargement process and the heart of the European project, as they are the first to experience challenges and the first to provide solutions.
The session titled "Decentralisation as a Key to the Success of the Enlargement Process" opened an important discussion on the institutional and fiscal empowerment of municipalities. Participants emphasized that local governments are responsible for implementing the majority of EU policies and legislation, making fiscal decentralisation an essential prerequisite for effective governance. They highlighted the crucial role of local authorities in allocating financial resources in line with local needs and priorities, while stressing the responsibility of central governments to provide adequate financial and administrative support. Participants also noted that countries across the Western Balkans face a common challenge in financing local public services, as central governments often fail to provide sufficient funding. It was underscored that decentralisation is not merely an administrative reform but a political prerequisite for democracy and balanced territorial development. Local governments, as the first point of contact with citizens and the European Union's closest partners on the ground, play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the enlargement process—a message unanimously shared by all participants.
The second session focused on the energy transition and local climate action in the context of European integration, with particular attention given to the challenges and opportunities that this transition presents for the countries of the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
