Municipalities in Montenegro now have two new tools at their disposal to help them make better use of opportunities and meet the obligations that come with the process of joining the European Union.
Within the project “Municipalities for the EU – Empowering Local Communities in the Process of European Integration of Montenegro,” implemented with EU support by the Ministry of Public Administration and the Union of Municipalities, two publications have been produced: Guide on the Role of Municipalities in the Process of European Integration and Manual on Available EU/IPA Funds for Local Governments in Montenegro.
The author of the Guide on the Role of Municipalities in the Process of European Integration, Nenad Koprivica, emphasizes that European integration begins and ends at the local level.
“It is precisely in the municipalities that citizens see the first concrete changes – through better services, improved infrastructure, and greater transparency. That is why it is important for local governments to be prepared, and the Guide offers a practical framework and tools to help them in this,” Koprivica stresses.
The Guide provides an overview of the obligations and opportunities for local governments in the negotiation process and highlights the experiences of Croatia and Slovenia, while the Manual focuses on the financial dimension – EU funds and programs available to municipalities.
The Guide also provides practical steps for preparing and implementing successful projects, along with an overview of concrete examples of good practice.
The author of the Manual on Available EU/IPA Funds for Local Governments, Vanja Starovlah, says that EU funds are not an abstract concept but an opportunity for municipalities to carry out projects that change citizens’ everyday lives.
“Our goal is for the Manual to make procedures more accessible and to show that, with good preparation and knowledge, every municipality can be successful in using European funds,” concludes Starovlah.
Both publications share the same goal – to empower municipalities in Montenegro to take an active role in European integration, make use of available resources, and bring citizens closer to the tangible benefits of EU membership. They are available on the website www.opstinezaeu.me.
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