Publications
Publications
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro has published Manual for Drafting Regulations of Local Self-Government Units, authored by Dragan Šoć, is the first document of its kind in Montenegro aimed at improving the quality, consistency, and uniformity of local regulations.
The handbook provides practical guidance for the preparation, drafting and adoption of local acts, including an overview of key legal drafting rules, examples of good practice, and recommendations for improving the normative work of local self-government units. it is intended for employees of local self-government units, council members, and all other stakeholders involved in the preparation and adoption of local regulations.
The Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, Mišela Manojlović, assessed that the Manual will serve as an important tool for local self-governments in the process of improving the quality of regulations and strengthening legal certainty at the local level.
“High-quality local regulations form the foundation for the efficient functioning of local self-government, the provision of better services to citizens, and the successful implementation of European standards at the local level. This Manual was developed in response to the need to further improve and harmonize legislative drafting practices in Montenegrin municipalities, while providing practical support in the day-to-day work of employees involved in the preparation of regulations,” said Manojlović.
She added that, in recent years, the Union of Municipalities has worked intensively to strengthen the capacities of local self-governments through training, expert support, and the exchange of experiences among municipalities.
“The Manual represents a logical continuation of these activities and contributes to the professionalization of local administration. We are confident that it will contribute to greater legal certainty, more efficient work of local authorities, and a better understanding of local regulations by citizens and other users,” Manojlović stated.
The design and printing of the publication were provided through the project “Municipalities for the EU – Empowering Local Communities in Montenegro’s European Integration Process,” which is implemented with the financial support of the European Union, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro.
Branka Mračević, Team Leader of the “Municipalities for the EU” project, emphasized that the project’s objective is to provide local self-governments with practical knowledge and tools that will help them implement reforms and strengthen their capacities for European integration.
“Through the 'Municipalities for the EU' project, we strive to provide local self-governments with practical knowledge and tools that will help them become stronger partners in the European integration process. We believe that this Manual will serve as valuable support to municipalities in improving their legislative drafting work and delivering higher-quality services to citizens,” Mračević stated.
The Manual is available in electronic format on the websites of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro and the 'Municipalities for the EU' project platform.
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro has published the Manual for the Implementation of EU Projects in the Local Self-Governments of Montenegro, with the aim of contributing to the efficiency of the work of employees in municipal administrations who are engaged in these tasks.
The Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities, Mišela Manojlović, emphasized that the manual was created in response to the need for practical, clear, and applicable guidelines for work in the field of EU projects, at a time when local self-governments are facing increasingly complex development challenges, but also significant opportunities provided by European Union funds.
“The aim of the manual is to provide support to local self-government officials in understanding the rules, procedures, and responsibilities that accompany the implementation of EU-funded projects, and to help them avoid the most common challenges in execution, financial management, and reporting. The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro starts from the conviction that strengthening the capacities of local self-governments, mutual cooperation, and a strategic approach to the use of European funds are key prerequisites for sustainable local development and improving the quality of life of citizens. We hope that this manual will serve as a useful tool in the daily work of officials, as well as a reliable foundation for the successful planning and implementation of future projects in Montenegrin municipalities,” Manojlović emphasized.
The authors of the Manual are mr Nada Pejović, the Head of the Directorate for Bilateral Cross-Border Programmes at the Ministry of European Affairs, and Simona Bošković, the Secretary of the Committee for International Cooperation and European Integration of the Union of Municipalities.
The design and printing of this publication were funded through the project “Municipalities for the EU – Empowering Local Communities in Montenegro’s European Integration Process,” financed by the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro.
Manual for the Implementation of EU Projects in the Local Self-Governments of Montenegro
Montenegrin municipalities today have access to more than twenty different European Union funds and programmes, providing opportunities to finance projects in almost all areas of local development. From infrastructure, cultural facilities, and kindergartens to digital services, environmental protection, and green policies, EU funds are becoming a key source of investment for local communities across the country. According to the Guide to Available EU Funds for Local Governments in Montenegro, authored by Vanja Starovlah and prepared within the framework of the “Municipalities for the EU” project, municipalities have at their disposal a wide range of financial instruments covering between 80 and as much as 95 percent of total project costs, which represents significant relief in circumstances where local budgets are limited.
The most significant source of support remains the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance – IPA III for the 2021–2027 period. This fund enables municipalities to implement projects in the fields of transport infrastructure, waste and wastewater management, sustainable tourism, energy efficiency, and the strengthening of administrative capacities. Cross-border programmes also play a particularly important role, such as Interreg South Adriatic, Interreg Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina–Montenegro, and the Adriatic-Ionian Programme ADRION. These programmes create opportunities for interregional partnerships, knowledge exchange, and access to a larger volume of European funding, especially for projects that exceed the capacities of individual municipalities.
In addition to IPA funds, Montenegrin local self-governments also have access to key European Union programmes intended not only for Member States but also for countries in the accession process. Among them is Horizon Europe, the EU’s largest research and innovation programme, through which municipalities can develop smart solutions, digital services, energy efficiency projects, and public sector modernization initiatives. The LIFE programme provides support for nature protection projects, climate action, clean energy, and the circular economy, while the CERV programme covers the strengthening of local democracy, citizen participation, the fight against discrimination, and the protection of human rights.
For the cultural sector, the Creative Europe programme is particularly important, as it enables municipalities to finance the work of cultural institutions, the organization of festivals, local cultural events, and international cooperation projects. Digital Europe represents a key tool for the modernization of municipal services through investments in cybersecurity, digital registers, artificial intelligence, and the improvement of e-government services. The Erasmus+ programme opens opportunities for schools, kindergartens, sports organizations, and municipalities themselves through knowledge exchange, professional training, and the enhancement of education and youth policies.
Municipalities also have access to specialized European instruments intended for the preparation of large-scale projects, climate and urban innovation, and the development of sustainable mobility. Among them is the WBIF – Western Balkans Investment Framework, which is crucial for financing major infrastructure projects such as water supply systems, sewage networks, energy systems, and roads. Programmes such as EUKI – the European Climate Initiative, NetZeroCities, EIT Climate-KIC, and EIT Urban Mobility encourage green innovation, climate transition, and the development of modern urban policies. The GAP Fund further facilitates the work of municipalities by financing the preparation of project and technical documentation, which is often the most expensive and complex step in launching major investment projects. Through the TAIEX instrument, municipalities gain access to expert assistance, training, and European best practices in the field of local policy management.
The wide availability of EU funds represents a historic opportunity for the modernization of local communities. European funding enables municipalities to build kindergartens, schools, sports facilities, and cultural centers, introduce smart management systems, develop green areas, improve public transport, and enhance the quality of life of citizens. For municipalities that are ready to plan, cooperate, and develop high-quality projects, EU funds are becoming the main driver of local development and a pathway toward faster integration into the European Union.
The “Municipalities for the EU” project empowers all Montenegrin municipalities to actively use EU funds and implement European standards. Through training programmes, mentoring, and the “EU and the Point” information hubs, citizens and local authorities receive knowledge, tools, and support for sustainable development and successful projects. The project is financed by the European Union, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro.
As part of the project “Municipalities for the EU – Strengthening Local Communities in the European Integration Process of Montenegro”, funded by the European Union and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, the publication “Guide on the Role of Municipalities in the European Integration Process of Montenegro” has been published, authored by Nenada Koprivice.
The publication was developed with the aim of empowering all Montenegrin municipalities to actively participate in the European integration process. The Guide provides a comprehensive overview of the legislative and institutional framework, an analysis of key EU chapters relevant to local self-governments, as well as practical recommendations for aligning local regulations with European legislation.
Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening the capacities of local self-governments through staff training, human resource development, the digitalization of municipal administrations, and the use of EU funds. The Guide also includes examples of good practice from Montenegro, as well as experiences and lessons learned from Croatia and Slovenia.
In addition to its analytical section, the publication also contains a range of practical tools—checklists, recommendations, communication strategies, and resources for municipalities—aimed at facilitating the planning and implementation of activities at the local level.
The “Municipalities for the EU” project encourages reforms at the local level, strengthens cooperation among municipalities, and contributes to better coordination with state institutions. Within the project, “EU Info Points” have also been established in each municipality, intended for citizens.
The publication will be distributed to all municipalities in Montenegro and will be used as support in further work on the European integration process.
https://uom.me/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/VODIC-o-ulozi-opstina-FINAL5.pdf
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro has prepared a brochure presenting a unique investment destination—a country that combines natural resources, a strategic location, and a favorable business environment. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of investment opportunities in municipalities across the country—from the coast to the mountains—featuring details on infrastructure resources, business zones, fiscal incentives, and specific projects suitable for investors from the country and the diaspora.
Sectors such as energy, tourism, IT, agriculture, and logistics offer numerous opportunities for development and partnership. Each municipality provides specific resources and comparative advantages, but all are united by openness to new investments and sustainable development.
https://uom.me/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Investicioni-potencijali_Digital.pdf
Our Vanja Starovlah, Assistant to the Secretary General for International Cooperation and European Integration, and Darko Mrvaljević, Secretary of the Committee for European Integration and International Cooperation, are the authors of the Practical Guide to Project Writing for Local Self-Governments in South-East Europe, published by NALAS – the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe.
Priručnik je namijenjen zaposlenim u lokalnim samoupravama koji žele da unaprijede svoje kapacitete za apsorpciju EU projekata. Pomoći će im da nauče da identifikuju mogućnosti finansiranja, u pripremi projekata, implementaciji i izveštavanju, ali prije svega, dobiće praktične, primjenljive savjete koje će moći da koriste u svakodnevnom radu sa EU projektima.
„Ovim Vodičem podstičemo vas, lokalne samouprave jugoistočne Evrope, da budete hrabri i kreativni, da inicirate i kreirate rješenja. Budite svjesni svog značaja u stvaranju novih vrijednosti, korišćenju dostupnih mogućnosti i postizanju nekih izvanrednih rezultata. Srećno!“ – poruka je izdavača.
In 2015, the Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals, along with principles for their implementation, representing a vision of the world to strive for by 2030.
The 17 overarching and 169 specific goals cover a wide range of sectoral policies. Local and regional authorities played a significant role in defining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), successfully ensuring the establishment of a standalone goal related to municipalities—SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements—as well as international recognition of the central role of local and regional authorities in sustainable development.
Since the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda must be achieved at global, national, and subnational levels, the success of this ambitious Agenda depends on the active participation of all levels of government and a wide range of stakeholders. The overarching Sustainable Development Goals, with their universal definition of general and specific targets, need to be adapted to concrete situations and specific needs in order to deliver real benefits to citizens and their living conditions. The process of adapting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda to the subnational context is known as the “localization of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Localization refers both to how the Sustainable Development Goals can provide a framework for local development policies, and to how local and regional authorities can support their achievement through “bottom-up” actions. In this regard, municipal capacities are crucial for implementing the 2030 Agenda, monitoring progress at the local level, and engaging the public, private, and civil sectors.
To support local authorities of its member municipalities in the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS), with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), has prepared a Handbook. The Handbook will help practitioners at the municipal level enhance their knowledge and strengthen their understanding of the importance of the 2030 Agenda and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level. It also aims to build their capacities to act as promoters of the SDGs and to encourage them to involve other stakeholders.
The Handbook provides key information on the Sustainable Development Goals, explaining the role of municipalities in achieving them and outlining mechanisms for raising awareness that municipalities can use to bring the SDGs closer to citizens. It also offers a variety of examples from the region and beyond, illustrating municipal activities in promoting the goals and how these efforts have contributed to the well-being of their communities.
The Handbook also provides guidance on integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into local strategies and explores the role of associations of local authorities and NALAS in mobilizing municipalities to achieve the SDGs.
The Union of Municipalities and the Water Supply Association of Montenegro jointly prepared the Guidelines for Cooperation between Local Self-Government Units and Providers of Regulated Communal Services.
This document aims to contribute to improving communication between local self-government bodies, local administration authorities, and water service providers, in order to provide key stakeholders in this field with professional support for making decisions of importance for water service management, and to raise the quality of these services to a higher level.
Složenost zakonodavnog okvira, subordinacioni odnos između opštine i pružaoca vodnih usluga te nedovoljan broj obuka kojim bi se povećao nivo profesionalnosti, stručnosti i efikasnosti zaposlenih u opštini i kod pružaoca vodnih usluga predstavlja izazov u uspostavljanju i održavanju adekvatnog nivoa međusobnih odnosa.
Obrađivači ovog dokumenta su za potrebe njegove izrade utvrdili postojeće stanje, odnosno identifikovali faze procesa u kojima postoje zastoji u komunikaciji između opštine i pružaoca vodnih usluga.
Na osnovu tako utvrđenog stanja obrađivači su dali preporuke sa ambicijom da se podigne nivo uzajamnog razumijevanja i podrške uspostavljanjem dvosmjernih komunikacionih odnosa koji su uslov za unapređenje pružanja vodnih usluga građanima i privredi.
Since they offer good practices, these Guidelines can be used as a practical handbook in everyday work, and can also serve as a platform for dialogue among stakeholders on all issues covered within the ten thematic areas.
Guidelines for Cooperation between Local Self-Government Units and Water Service Providers
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UOM) has submitted to all its member municipalities a document titled Guidelines for Improving the Participation of Citizens and Local Communities in Decision-Making in Local Self-Governments.
The Guidelines were developed with the aim of providing expert support to municipalities in implementing the obligations set out in the Law on Local Self-Government, as well as strengthening citizens and the non-governmental sector to participate in decision-making at the local level.
The Guidelines present the forms of citizen and local community participation in decision-making at the local level as defined by law (initiative, citizens’ initiative, referendum, citizens’ assembly, complaint/petition), and specify in which cases each of them is used, as well as new opportunities for their more effective and efficient participation in decision-making within local communities,” stated the Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities. Mišela Manojlović.
An integral part of the Guidelines are also written templates for the implementation of the aforementioned forms of participation by citizens and local communities. Mišela Manojlović expressed her belief that this document and the templates will be useful both to municipalities and to citizens in their proactive participation in decision-making at the local level.
The Union of Municipalities prepared this document in cooperation with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), as a result of one of the planned activities envisaged by the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two organizations. By developing this document, the Union fulfilled an obligation defined under the National Action Plan for the implementation of the Open Government Partnership in Montenegro initiative for the period 2023–2024.
The Guidelines and all templates are available at the following links:
Guidelines for Improving the Participation of Citizens and Local Communities
Model Request for Convening a Citizens’ Assembly
The Union of Municipalities has once again prepared its “Bulletin,” a report on its work in 2024. In the foreword, the President of the Governing Board, Radoš Žugić, described the position of local self-governments, the challenges they face, as well as the various measures undertaken by the Union of Municipalities to strengthen the influence of municipalities on public policies.
Bilten sadrži informacije o aktivnostima koje su preduzimali organi upravljanja, stalna, ad hoc radna tijela i Sekretarijat Zajednice radi unapređenja i zaštite sistema lokalne samouprave i svih podsistema od suštinskog značaja za funkcionisanje opština u oblasti uređenje prostora, poreza i finansiranja, režima morskog dobra, ravnomjernog regionalnog razvoja, komunalne i ostalih oblasti iz lokalne nadležnosti, sa fokusom na sve odredbe koje stvaraju pretpostavke za decentralizaciju, koje je trebalo identifikovati u svakom pojedinom propisu i državnom strateškom dokumentu. Najveći izazov u realizaciji tih aktivnosti je zaštita zajedničkih interesa svih ili večine opština, ali i posebnih interesa pojedinih, najčešće manjih opština ili grupa opština, koje treba prepoznati i adekvatno normirati a koji su često međusobno suprotstavljeni.
Osim aktivnosti koje su planirane Programom rada Zajednice za 2024. godinu i aktivnosti koje su diktirane odlukama njenih organa upravljanja, u ovom Izvještaju sadržan je i niz normativnih aktivnosti koje su predstavljale odgovor Zajednice na sve češću pojavu pokretanje skupštinska procedure od strane Vlade Crne Gore ili poslanika za donošenje značajnih propisa – bez najave, bez učešća opština, bez javnih rasprava i valjanih analiza njihovog fiskalnog uticaja, sa veoma kratkim rokom za reagovanje, često i u satima i uz dodatne napore Sekretarijata Zajednice da nađe mehanizme za amandmansko djelovanje predlagača ili drugog poslanika.
The 2024 Work Program planned a total of 112 activities across various areas, all of which were implemented at a rate of 100%. In addition, 46 extra activities were carried out, meaning that the Union implemented a total of 158 activities, which is 41% more than originally planned.
U želji da podstakne bratimljenje crnogorskih lokalnih samouprava sa gradovima Evrope i svijeta, Zajednica opština Crne Gore je pripremila publikaciju BRATIMLJENJE. Ovom publikacijom su predstavljene naše lokalne samouprave sa kratkim prikazom svojih specifičnosti, istorijskih osobenosti i bogatstvom kulturnog nasleđa. Publikacija je pripremljena sa ciljem da se povežemo sa većim brojem gradova i opština i ostvarimo jak osjećaj prijateljstva i zajedničkog evropskog indentiteta. Publikacija je urađena na crnogorskom I engleskom jeziku.
Follow us
Contact
Union of Municipalities of Montenegro
Avda Međedovića 138
81000 Podgorica
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m