Montenegrin delegation, led by Marijom Kljajić from the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, paid a working visit to Madrid at the invitation of the Transport Community and GIZ, with the aim of exchanging experiences and strengthening cooperation in the field of sustainable urban transport and mobility. The delegation also included Gavrilo Vuković, a representative of the Capital City of Podgorica, as well as Ljubiša Tadić from the Municipality of Bar.
“During the visit, the delegation became acquainted with the work of Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid (EMT Madrid), the municipal public company responsible for organizing and managing urban transport in the Spanish capital. EMT Madrid operates an extensive network of bus lines, as well as the BiciMAD public bicycle system, and represents one of the key pillars of Madrid’s public transport system. The company operates 24 hours a day, throughout the year, providing efficient and sustainable transport services to millions of users.”
In discussions with the hosts, the Montenegrin representatives emphasized the importance of improving local public transport systems and presented examples of good practice from Montenegro. Gavrilo Vuković presented the achievements of the Capital City of Podgorica in the field of urban mobility, highlighting the introduction of free public transport, the continuous renewal of the vehicle fleet in recent years, as well as improvements in the connectivity and accessibility of city lines across all parts of the city. As he pointed out, these measures have contributed to increased use of public transport and an improved quality of life for citizens.
Ljubiša Tadić spoke about the proactive approach of the Municipality of Bar to the development of sustainable mobility, emphasizing that concrete measures are implemented every year in this field, including the marking of European Mobility Week. Special emphasis was placed on activities aimed at young people, through which educational and promotional initiatives encourage the use of alternative modes of transport. He stressed that sustainable mobility will remain one of the priorities of the Municipality of Bar in the coming period as well.
Speaking about institutional support for local governments, Marija Kljajić emphasized that the first local sustainable urban mobility plans in Montenegro were developed with the support of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro and GIZ, thereby laying an important foundation for a systematic approach to this field. She added that the Union of Municipalities remains a reliable partner to municipalities in implementing sustainable solutions that contribute to improving the quality of life and well-being of all citizens.
The working visit to Madrid contributed to strengthening partnerships and opened opportunities for further cooperation between Montenegro and international partners in the development of sustainable, efficient, and accessible urban transport systems.
