Through the EU project "Breaking Social Isolation" of the URBACT IV network of European cities, in which a non-EU country participates for the first time, the municipality of Bijelo Polje, as a representative of Montenegro, hosted representatives of cities from France, Slovenia, Hungary, Denmark, Portugal, Spain, Greece, as well as the leading expert of the project from Belgium, the Municipality of Bijelo Polje announced.
Representatives of European cities were welcomed by representatives of the Ministry of European Affairs Borka Lješković and Danijela Anđelić, Vice President of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje Nermin Bećirović, Goran Prebiračević, Head of the EU Office, and Predrag Tončić, Director of the Home for the Elderly in Bijelo Polje.
Speaking on behalf of the host city, Vice President of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, Nermin Bećirović, emphasized that the European Cities Network project, as well as other EU projects in other spheres, is very important for the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, both in terms of Montenegro's accession to the European Union and in terms of the general development of the city.
"The vision of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje is equal opportunities for all citizens, and our goal is to create opportunities for social inclusion of all individuals and groups through the provision of quality and accessible social protection services, based on a partnership between the public and civil sectors," said Bećirović. "We are very pleased to be attending this transnational meeting today and we are proud of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje," said Borka Lješković, representative of the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro.
On behalf of the Bijelo Polje Nursing Home, I would like to welcome you, and tomorrow you will be our guests and we will introduce you to the provision of our social services," said Predrag Tončić, Director of the Bijelo Polje Nursing Home. As part of the Breaking social isolation project, the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, in cooperation with the Bijelo Polje Nursing Home, will contribute to the fight against isolation by creating social connections between young and old and promoting diversity. The partners in this project are Agen (France) as the lead partner, Isernia (Italy), Serres (Greece), Fot (Hungary), Pombal (Portugal), Humilja (Spain), Škofja Loka (Slovenia) and Tender (Denmark) and the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, Montenegro, said Goran Prebiračević, Head of the EU Office.
The aim of the project is to find innovative ways to overcome social isolation through the provision of social services aimed at people. During the project, the cities participating in the network exchange experiences, cooperate closely, and jointly seek a modus operandi that could be applied at the local and national levels. As part of the visit, a tour of the Bijelo Polje Nursing Home, the Tisa Day Center, the Risto Ratković House will be organized, and a concert by the Tekstilac Cultural and Artistic Association will be held in cooperation with the Cultural Center.
"The Municipality of Bijelo Polje is the first municipality in Montenegro and in the region to organize this type of transnational meeting," concluded Prebiračević.
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