As part of the regional project “Promoting Deliberative Democracy and Innovative Approaches to Citizen Participation in South-East Europe,” implemented by NALAS and the Council of Europe, training sessions were successfully conducted in a total of five municipalities in Montenegro participating in the project.
Following the first training session, held on 30 May 2025 in the Municipality of Tivat, additional sessions were organized in the Municipality of Danilovgrad on 20 June, the Municipality of Bar on 25 June, the Municipality of Šavnik on 30 June, and the Capital City of Podgorica on 1 July 2025.
A total of 69 participants attended the training sessions, including municipal officials and councillors, employees of local government bodies and public enterprises and institutions, members of local community councils, and representatives of local citizens’ forums.
The training sessions aimed to strengthen the capacities of local stakeholders to apply modern participatory mechanisms, with a particular focus on citizens’ assemblies as an innovative model of deliberative democracy.
Participants assessed the training sessions as useful and practical, recognizing the importance of deliberative approaches in local decision-making. All participating municipalities also expressed interest in exploring the further development of these mechanisms within their communities in the future.
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro provided support in organizing the activities and acted as a facilitator within the project. It will continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening citizen participation and enhancing local democracy in Montenegrin municipalities.
