Evo prevoda na prirodan engleski za saopštenje: The delegation of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe (CINGO), as part of its official visit to Montenegro, met today with representatives of local governments at the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro. The meeting focused on assessing the participation of civil society in decision-making processes, reviewing the state of civic space, and discussing the enabling environment for the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The guests were welcomed by Milica Radojičićthe guests were welcomed by the Assistant Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro for International Cooperation and European Integration, who highlighted that the Association is actively working to improve mechanisms for direct citizen participation, particularly through its contribution to the drafting of the new Law on Local Self-Government.
“Following contemporary European trends and the development of participatory democracy, we have proposed significant amendments, including the introduction of the concept of deliberative democracy through the establishment of *citizens' assemblies*. We believe this mechanism can represent an important step forward in improving public participation in decision-making processes. However, we are aware that the legal framework is only one part of the process. Its consistent implementation in practice, the continuous strengthening of local government capacities, and the development of a culture of dialogue and partnership between local authorities, citizens, and civil society organizations are equally important,” Radojičić said.
She also noted that, in cooperation with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the Union of Municipalities prepared the publication *Guidelines for Enhancing the Participation of Citizens and Local Communities in Decision-Making in Local Governments* in September 2024. The publication aims to support local governments, citizens, and civil society organizations in better understanding and making effective use of existing participatory mechanisms.
Representatives of the municipalities attending the meeting were Tanja Spičanovićvice president of the Municipality of Bar, Ivan Lakić, secretary of the Secretariat for social affairs of the Municipality of Danilovgrad, Nikola Jočić representative of the Secretariat for local self-government and cooperation with civil society of the Capital city, and Violeta Vukčević representative of the municipality of Zeta. They presented the models of cooperation with the civil society sector and non-governmental organizations in their respective local governments.
Evo prirodnog prevoda u stilu međunarodnih saopštenja: The meeting also covered participatory mechanisms such as public hearings and citizen consultations, the practical challenges faced by local governments, the openness and transparency of local authorities, and the Council of Europe’s standards on participatory democracy. Participants exchanged examples of good practice and identified opportunities to further strengthen the role of civil society at the local level. The importance of aligning local practices with European standards was emphasized in order to ensure an enabling environment for the work of civil society organizations.
The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro remains committed to strengthening the openness and accountability of local governments through the continuous advancement of citizen participation.
