As part of the regional project “Promoting Deliberative Democracy and Innovative Approaches to Citizen Participation in South-East Europe,” a training session on the fundamentals of deliberative democracy was held in the Municipality of Tivat.
The project is implemented by the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS), with the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro serves as the national partner, supporting the project's implementation in Montenegro.
The Municipality of Tivat is one of three pilot municipalities in Montenegro participating in the project, alongside Bar and Šavnik. Activities in Montenegro are coordinated by the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, which acts as the national facilitator, overseeing the implementation of project activities and supporting local governments in strengthening their knowledge and capacity in the field of deliberative democracy.
As the first in a series of training sessions, the workshop entitled “Deliberative Democracy for Greater Citizen Participation in Decision-Making” was held in the Municipality of Tivat on 30 May. The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of local government representatives to apply modern participatory mechanisms in decision-making. The training was delivered by Aleksandra Gligorović and brought together municipal officials, employees of the local administration, members of the Municipal Assembly of Tivat, and presidents of the councils of Tivat's local communities.
The training focused on understanding and the practical application of the principles of deliberative democracy, with particular emphasis on Citizens' Assemblies as an innovative mechanism for involving citizens in local decision-making.
In the coming period, training sessions will also be held in the municipalities of Bar and Šavnik, which are participating in the project. In addition, the Capital City of Podgorica and the Municipality of Danilovgrad, which subsequently expressed interest in joining the initiative, will also take part in the training programme.
The project will run until the end of July 2025 and brings together a total of 18 municipalities and seven national associations of local authorities from across the region.
