“Our partnership with NALAS provides us with a valuable platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience, which is of key importance for the development of our local communities,” said Jelena Borovinić Bojović, President of the Capital City Assembly.
Ona je ugostila delegaciju Upravnog odbora Mreže asocijacija lokalnih samouprava Jugoistočne Evrope (NALAS), predvođenu izvršnim direktorom NALAS-a, Kelmendom Zajazijem, and the meeting was also attended by Ida Kolinović, Acting Secretary of the Capital City Secretariat for Social Welfare.
“This visit represents a step forward in strengthening ties between local self-governments in the region and confirms the Capital City’s commitment to actively participating in regional initiatives that contribute to sustainable development and improving the quality of life of all citizens,” Borovinić Bojović concluded.
Kalmend Zajazi expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and emphasised the importance of such visits for enhancing regional cooperation and the exchange of experience in the field of local self-government.
According to the Capital City Assembly, the meeting addressed topics of common interest, including ongoing projects aimed at improving the social inclusion of vulnerable groups, such as the “Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in the Western Balkans (SoRi III)” project, implemented by NALAS in cooperation with GIZ.
“This project, which runs from 2022 to 2025, aims to improve access to services for vulnerable groups through activities such as awareness-raising, the development of day-care centres and mobile support teams. In its fourth phase, the project will also include Montenegro and will be implemented by the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro.
The meeting was attended on behalf of the Union of Municipalities by Ivana Nedović, Secretary of the Committee for Social Affairs, and Simona Bošković, Secretary of the Committee for International Cooperation and European Integration.
“The Union of Municipalities is proud of all the social services that the Capital City provides to its citizens from vulnerable groups, and in this regard it can serve as an example of good practice in the region. NALAS is precisely an excellent platform for the exchange of experience, through which we have the opportunity to learn from one another, as well as to support one another,” Nedović emphasised. She thanked NALAS and GIZ for recognising the capacity and readiness of the Union of Municipalities to participate in the next phase of the SoRi project, whose activities will contribute to improving social protection services in Montenegro.
NALAS is the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe, bringing together 13 associations representing around 9,000 local authorities directly elected by more than 80 million citizens across the region.
