Sattler in Šavnik: Montenegro one step away from the EU, take advantage of European funds

The Mayor of the Municipality of Šavnik, Jugoslav Jakić, received an official visit from the Head of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, Ambassador Johan Sattler.

During the meeting, the development potential of Šavnik was discussed, the current challenges facing the local government, as well as the concrete opportunities that European funds offer for improving the quality of life in this municipality.

Sattler, the Municipality of Šavnik announced, emphasized that Montenegro has made significant progress on its European path and that, as the most advanced candidate country, it has a realistic possibility of becoming a full member of the European Union by 2028. He emphasized that this process opens up a large space for the use of EU funds, which represents a direct opportunity for the Municipality of Šavnik.

"We must use this time for intensive preparation. It is important that local self-government is as well organized as possible and prepared for the withdrawal of grants from EU funds. I encourage you to seek expert and technical assistance from neighboring countries, such as Croatia and Slovenia, which have successfully gone through this process and have valuable experience. The European Union provides strong support through the 'Municipalities for the EU' program, which is directly aimed at addressing the local needs of citizens," said Satler.

He took the opportunity to invite the leadership and citizens of Šavnik to join the environmental campaign "Take care, and I will take care of you", emphasizing that Šavnik is an unforgettable locality.

"Preserving these incredible natural resources is crucial both for improving the environment and for creating conditions that will keep young families in this area," Sattler said.

Jakić informed the ambassador about the conditions in which local families live, as well as the measures the municipality is taking to alleviate the identified challenges.

He stressed, the statement reads, the importance of adopting a new Law on Local Self-Government and the necessity of legal interventions that would enable a better balance between centralization and decentralization of government, giving municipalities greater authority to solve citizens' everyday problems.

"We are working in challenging circumstances, but it is encouraging to know that through systemic measures and support for agriculture and agritourism, we have managed to significantly slow down the trend of population emigration. For the further development of Šavnik, the adoption of the Spatial Plan of Montenegro, as well as a clear European integration strategy at the local level, is of crucial importance," said Jakić.

The statement states that the interlocutors agreed that Satler's first visit to Šavnik is a strong signal that the European Union is counting on every Montenegrin municipality and that the partnership between the EU and local communities will be further strengthened towards the historic goal - Montenegro's membership in the EU.