**As part of the public call for the selection of best practices in local self-government for 2025, the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro awarded the Municipality of Tivat the recognition for Best Practice in the category of “Citizen Participation in Local Decision-Making Processes.”**
**The Municipality of Tivat’s practice, recognized in a highly competitive category, stood out as an example of active cooperation between the local administration and citizens, resulting in the successful reorganization of local community councils. This process was not merely an administrative reform, but a concrete example of how local self-government can identify and respond to community needs through the direct involvement of citizens.**
At the initiative of the citizens themselves, and with the full support of the local administration, a reorganization was carried out of a previously dysfunctional local community council, resulting in the establishment of two new, active, and effective local community councils. This process was guided by an inclusive approach—through public consultations, institutional coordination, and open communication, citizens were given the opportunity to participate directly in defining the structure and functioning of the new local community councils.
This practice demonstrates a high level of democratic culture and institutional maturity. After being given greater opportunities to participate, citizens actively assumed responsibility and became genuine partners to the local administration. Within the newly established local community councils, mechanisms were created that enable faster resolution of local issues, a higher degree of citizen participation, and stronger connections between the community and the municipal administration.
This approach has also further improved the internal organization of the local administration. Through interdepartmental cooperation, enhanced coordination, and the involvement of multiple municipal services, the reorganization resulted in more efficient operations, while strengthening citizens’ trust in public institutions and encouraging additional community-driven initiatives.
The Best Practice Selection Commission assessed that the Municipality of Tivat’s initiative meets all key evaluation criteria—effectiveness, replicability in other municipalities, sustainability, and transparency—and represents a model that can be transferred and adapted to other local governments across Montenegro.
It is important to emphasize that Tivat’s practice has also produced a multiplier effect—the reorganization of local community councils motivated citizens to continue submitting new initiatives, while the local administration further strengthened a culture of openness, accessibility, and civic engagement.
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro congratulates the Municipality of Tivat on this valuable recognition and extends its gratitude to all stakeholders—citizens, local community councils, and municipal services—who contributed to the successful implementation of this initiative. This example demonstrates how important it is for local governments to remain open to cooperation and willing to listen to and respond to the needs of their communities.
In addition to the Municipality of Tivat, awards for best practices under the 2025 public call were also presented to:
Municipality of Šavnik – for the development of a mobile application for informing citizens, particularly in emergency situations;
Municipality of Budva – for improving cooperation with the company Otpadne vode with the aim of preventing environmental incidents;
Municipality of Pljevlja – for the successful implementation of a set of measures that led to the consolidation of the operations of the public utility company Vodovod and the improvement of service delivery.
In forthcoming announcements, the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro will present these award-winning practices in greater detail, with the aim of further promoting solutions that strengthen local government capacities, improve the quality of public services, and encourage more active citizen participation in the development of their communities.
