The Montenegrin delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is in Strasbourg, where it is participating in the 49th Session of the Congress, taking place from 28 to 30 October at the Palace of Europe. This year’s session is dedicated to marking the 40th anniversary of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Council of Europe’s fundamental legal instrument for safeguarding and promoting the principles of local democracy, the rule of law, and good governance.
The Montenegrin delegation is composed of Petar Smolović, Head of the Delegation and Mayor of Bijelo Polje, dr. Jelena Borovinić Bojović, member of the delegation and President of the Assembly of the Capital City of Podgorica, and Milica Radojičić, secretary of the delegation and assistant to the secretary general of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro.
The session of the Congress has brought together representatives of local and regional authorities from all 46 member states of the Council of Europe to jointly discuss the most important issues of contemporary local governance and the challenges faced by local communities across the continent.
The President of the Assembly of the Capital City, Dr. Jelena Borovinić Bojović, actively participated in the debates, presenting examples of good practice from Montenegro and Podgorica. In her address, she highlighted efforts aimed at increasing the transparency of the Assembly’s work, developing digital platforms that encourage greater citizen participation, and improving legal and institutional mechanisms that enable broader involvement of local communities in decision-making processes.
Dr. Borovinić Bojović also presented the initiative “Podgorica – European Youth Capital 2028,” emphasizing that the active involvement of young people in local and regional life is a prerequisite for long-term sustainable democracy and social progress. She noted that this objective is fully aligned with this year’s thematic focus of the Congress, dedicated to youth and their participation in public life.
During their stay in Strasbourg, members of the Montenegrin delegation held numerous meetings and discussions with representatives of European cities and regions, exchanging experiences in the areas of local democracy, human rights, gender equality, and the improvement of local institutions’ performance.
The participation of the Montenegrin delegation in this session is of particular importance for Montenegro’s municipalities, as it reaffirms their commitment to European values and standards of local self-government. Through their active engagement in the work of the Congress, Montenegrin municipalities are strengthening their visibility on the European stage and contributing to the promotion of Montenegro as a country that fosters responsible, transparent, and citizen-oriented local governance.
The message from Strasbourg is clear: strong local self-government is the foundation of a strong democracy. Through their active participation in the work of European institutions, Montenegro’s municipalities reaffirm their readiness to be reliable partners within a shared European space founded on freedom, the rule of law, solidarity, and mutual trust.
