With the opening of the first Europe House outside the capital of Montenegro - in Bar, the city under Rumija has gained a new public space that strengthens its role as a regional center, but also additionally connects citizens with European values, programs and opportunities.
This was told to "Vijesti" by the head of the European House in that city. Marija Nikčević and added that its opening is a strong message that European policies and dialogue do not only happen in the capital, but where people live, work and plan their future.
The European House in Bar opened its doors six months ago, and the experience of Nikčević and her colleagues has shown that the first half year of work has established that the interest of the local community, both from Bar and the entire southern region, is extremely high.
"Since the very opening, we have been faced with a large number of inquiries, initiatives and proposals for cooperation - from citizens, young people, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, to local and state institutions," she pointed out.
She is particularly pleased that the European House is not only recognized as a space for events, but also as an open platform for dialogue, information and networking. Through workshops, info sessions, panel discussions and public talks, in cooperation with the Municipality of Bar, schools, the NGO sector and embassies of EU member states, they have managed, she points out, to respond to the specific needs of the community.
The impressions they receive are very positive, she said, and the trust that citizens show them is additional motivation to continue even more intensively.
When asked why Bar was the right city to open the first European House outside the capital, the newspaper's interviewee replied that the city was a logical and natural choice.
"It is the largest city on the Montenegrin coast, a city rich in history, culture and exceptional multiculturalism, but also a city with strong potential to connect people, ideas and regions. As one of the key points of southern Montenegro, Bar has the capacity to be a bridge between the coast, the south and European initiatives," Nikčević points out.
We are extremely satisfied with the results so far, she said, because in a relatively short period of time they have organized a large number of diverse activities - from educational and informative to cultural and participatory events.
She particularly highlighted the "Super Stella" competition, intended for the youngest, which, through play and creativity, allowed children to show their talents, but also to become acquainted for the first time with the European House as a space that belongs to them.
"Erasmus+" workshops also aroused great interest among young people, as they provided them with concrete information about education, mobility, and the opportunities offered to them.
Also worth noting is the series "EU Days at Europe House Bar - What is the EU?", as well as events organized in cooperation with the embassies of the European Union member states, where citizens had the opportunity to speak directly with diplomats and experts.
An important segment of their work, as she emphasized, are also environmental activities within the "Protect and Let It Protect You" campaign, as well as numerous workshops and visits to elementary and secondary schools.
Making an abstract topic interesting
Commenting on the role of the Europe House in the context of European integration and young people's interest in this topic, Nikčević said that it plays an important role in bringing the European integration process closer to citizens, especially young people.
"Our goal is to make this often abstract topic understandable, practical, and close to everyday life," she said.
The great interest in Erasmus+ workshops and EU info sessions, according to her, showed how much young people need clear, accurate and direct information. Activities such as meetings with ambassadors were particularly notable, where young people could hear first-hand the experiences of EU member states, but also ask questions about the opportunities that are opening up before them.
These meetings further encouraged them, at the European House in Bar, to continue with a series of talks with ambassadors and representatives of EU institutions.
At the Bar "European Center", they most often work with young people, and this cooperation has shown them that younger people from Bar are most interested in specific topics - education, employment, mobility, digital skills, ecology, and active participation in the community.
The European House in Bar has, for the first time, offered them a permanent, open space where they can come, ask questions, make suggestions and participate, says Nikčević.
In addition to "Erasmus+" and environmental topics, from January next year they are planning workshops dedicated to artificial intelligence, digital literacy, and modern technologies, because these are areas that young people clearly recognize as important for their future.
What is new is precisely the continuity and accessibility - the European House is a place that is constantly available to young people, said the manager.
Their goal for 2026 is to further strengthen the role of the Europe House as a central place for dialogue, cooperation and learning in southern Montenegro. They also plan to organize a “wrap-up” meeting with the local community at the end of the year, to jointly review what has been done, but also to hear what Bar and the region really needs.
"The focus will be on strengthening cooperation with municipalities, schools and NGOs across the southern region, so that the European House Bar truly connects the entire coast with Europe. We will continue with a variety of content - from education and culture, to participatory formats, because we believe that openness towards the community is the key to success," said Nikčević.
The first man of the Bar Municipality Dušan Raičević, during the celebration of the Day of the Municipality of Bar and the Day of the Liberation of Bar - on November 24, he said that the European agenda in Bar is "alive and vibrant" and that they received confirmation of this from the Delegation of the European Union - with the opening of the European House, which is the European center for the entire Montenegrin coast.
"The European House has become a true home of European values, bringing together the local government, the community, the civil sector, the diplomatic corps and all citizens of Bar through a series of successful projects, for which I thank them," he said.
Johan Sattler, the European Union Ambassador to Montenegro, at the ceremonial opening of the Europe House in Bar, six months ago, said that it is not just a new address, but a space where Europe becomes real, tangible and present in the lives of the citizens of this city and the entire coast.
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