“The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro actively shares the values promoted by the Central European Initiative—democracy, dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity. Our activities represent a practical contribution to these goals through projects that strengthen local self-government and connect cities and municipalities across the region,” stated Milica Radojičić,the Assistant Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro for International Cooperation and European Integration, while participating in the Central European Initiative (CEI) Forum held in Belgrade.
The Forum was also attended by Marija Kljajić, the secretary of the Union of Municipalities’ Committee for Spatial Planning.
Radojičić emphasized that, through its activities, the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro seeks to connect local communities across the region, promote transparency in local government operations, and strengthen citizens’ trust in public institutions. “Through training programmes on open data, public administration digitalization, and citizen participation in decision-making, we contribute to greater transparency and stronger trust between citizens and institutions. At the international level, the Union of Municipalities strives to serve as a bridge between local communities in Montenegro and partner municipalities across the CEI region, facilitating the exchange of experience and good practices in the fields of sustainable development, environmental protection, and social inclusion,” she stated.
The Forum brought together representatives of national associations of local and regional authorities from CEI member states and was organized by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. The theme of the event was “The Local Dimension of European Cooperation,” and its objective was to strengthen the role of local governments in the European integration process and facilitate the exchange of experiences in implementing reforms at the local level.
During the opening of the Forum, the CEI National Coordinator for Serbia and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Miloš Todorović emphasized that local authorities play a key role in implementing concrete policies, while the President of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM), dr. Goran Cvetanović he emphasized that “the local level clearly reflects the needs and potential of our communities, and through cooperation we create solutions that connect our societies and contribute to the stability of the region.”
Representatives of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro presented a number of initiatives at the Forum that contribute to the development of local democracy, the strengthening of municipal capacities, and the enhancement of regional cooperation. The Union of Municipalities is actively cooperating with the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro in the preparation of a new Law on Local Self-Government, which is expected to further strengthen the capacities of local authorities and support the decentralization process.
The Union also delivers training programmes for local government officials in the areas of participatory decision-making, transparency, and digitalization, thereby contributing to greater efficiency and enhanced citizen involvement in local governance.
The Union of Municipalities places particular emphasis on social inclusion through projects supporting children leaving the Children’s Home in Bijela, assistance to marginalized groups, and initiatives aimed at promoting the employment of young people and women in rural areas.
At the international level, the Union of Municipalities coordinates programmes for the exchange of experience between municipalities in Montenegro and partner municipalities from the CEI region, including Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the fields of environmental protection, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.
Through all of these activities, the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro reaffirms that local governments are a key pillar of European cooperation and democratization, as well as an important channel for connecting citizens, institutions, and international partners.
