The celebration of Europe Day in Montenegro this year began in Kolašin, with a rich institutional and cultural program, which symbolically marked the beginning of the month dedicated to Europe and European values throughout the country.
The central ceremony was held at the Kolašin Cultural Center, attended by representatives of state institutions, the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, local governments, educational institutions and numerous citizens.
The European Union Ambassador to Montenegro, Johan Sattler, stressed the EU's commitment to further support for Montenegro on its European path.
"Thank you to Kolašin for hosting this inaugural event and to all the municipalities across Montenegro that joined this month-long celebration. Europe Day is not celebrated in just one place, on one day. It lives in communities like yours, across the country. Europe Day carries a simple but powerful idea: that countries and people are stronger when they work together. This idea has shaped Europe for more than 70 years and is just as important today," he said.
According to him, this month across Montenegro we see this idea in action – through culture, music, sports and local traditions, as we celebrate Europe Day together. Such moments, according to him, bring people together.
"They make Europe tangible. They show that Europe is not something far away, but something we build together every day – in our villages, cities and towns," said Sattler.
According to the President of the Municipality of Kolašin, Petko Bakić, "the EU is not just a political and economic project."
The EU, he said, is a community of values - solidarity, mutual respect, equal opportunities, cooperation and responsibility.
"We live these values in Kolašin, through the work of the local community, openness towards partners and care for each of our citizens. Kolašin already recognizes and uses the opportunities provided by European funds. Kolašin is the first municipality in Montenegro to establish a special Service for European Integration, in order to be ready for the day when Montenegro becomes a full member of the European Union," said Bakić.
He said that in the previous period, the local government has implemented and prepared several significant projects with the support of the European Union, which directly contribute to improving infrastructure, environmental protection, and a better quality of life.
"One of the most significant is the project to build a wastewater treatment plant and sewage network, along with improving the water supply system. Its goal is to collect, treat and divert wastewater in a sustainable and safe manner, thereby protecting human health and reducing the negative impact on the environment," said Bakić.
Significant grants have been secured for the project through cooperation with European institutions, which confirms the concrete support of the EU. The Municipality of Kolašin, said the Mayor, together with the relevant ministries, signed agreements for the implementation of projects within the IPA program for the environment and climate change, which will improve waste management, water supply and environmental protection.
Montenegro's Chief Negotiator with the EU, Predrag Zenović, pointed out the importance of Europe Day as a reminder of the fundamental values on which the European Union is based, but also as confirmation of Montenegro's European path.
"We celebrate Europe Day as a reminder of the fundamental values - peace, solidarity and unity among nations, but also as a confirmation that Montenegro already belongs to these values. Today, we recognize them right here, in our municipalities and cities, in schools and institutions, among the people who contribute to the community every day," said Chief Negotiator Zenović.
Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj spoke, among other things, about the importance of strengthening the capacities of local governments and their role in the European integration process.
As he said, "local self-government is a key level of European policies, and as much as 70 percent of EU law is implemented at the local level."
"That is why the Ministry of Public Administration recognized its importance in time and directed reforms towards strengthening municipalities as the foundation of development and European integration. I proudly point out that, thanks to our initiative, the wave of change has already unstoppably and irreversibly affected all Montenegrin municipalities," said Dukaj.
The cultural and artistic program was prepared by students and teachers from the Kolasin educational institutions of the "Braća Selić" Secondary Mixed School, the "Risto Manojlović" Primary School, the "Sestre Radović" Kindergarten and the School for Primary Music Education, as well as the "Mijat Mašković" Cultural and Artistic Association. Through music, dance and recitation, the young people creatively presented the values of togetherness, "respect for diversity and preservation of cultural identity, with the symbolic performance of the anthems of Montenegro and the EU".
As part of the celebration of Europe Day, the first call for project proposals under the EU for All in Montenegro (EU4ALL) project, worth a total of €900.000, was presented, through which the European Union supports Montenegrin municipalities in improving local infrastructure and public services. This call represents a significant opportunity for the implementation of concrete investments at the local level and further strengthening the capacities of municipalities to use EU funds.
The celebration of Europe Day will continue tonight with a concert by Marco Luis at the Cultural Center. The ceremony in Kolašin is part of a national program that is being implemented throughout Montenegro during May, with the aim of further bringing European values closer to citizens and highlighting the country's European perspective.
The celebration of Europe Day is organized by projects funded by the European Union – Europe House, EU4ME and Municipalities for the EU – in cooperation with municipalities in Montenegro.
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