"By involving local governments in the process of the European integration, we ensure that the voice and needs of the people are heard and their concerns addressed throughout the integration process," said Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro Oana Cristina Popa at the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with local self-governments and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro organised in Villa Gorica.

"We must now double our efforts and seize the momentum following the appointment of the new government and the renewed interest in the enlargement of the EU Member States," Popa stated.

The Ambassador emphasised the need to actively engage citizens, instilling in them a sense of shared responsibility for the integration process.

"I assure you; you will be positively surprised with the level of creativity and willingness they will demonstrate to improve conditions and make their community a better place to live in," said Popa.

The Memorandum of Cooperation with local self-governments and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, signed by the Ministry of European Affairs, aims to better inform citizens about the European integration process at the local level.

This memorandum is expected to indirectly lead to the better utilisation of EU funds, improving the quality of life, and modernising services in municipalities. It states that nearly 70% of the European legislation is applied at the local level, making it essential for local self-governments to be involved in planning and implementing activities alongside the government leading accession negotiations.

"Local self-governments, as part of the public administration system, are at the centre of reform processes. As the closest to citizens, they represent part of the government that bears significant responsibility for the quality of their lives and for creating a stimulating environment for the economic and overall development of the local community. Therefore, they play a crucial role in informing and educating citizens, as well as involving them in activities that contribute to the community’s progress," stated Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević. She expressed gratitude to the representatives of the municipality for their interest in cooperating in this area.

The President of the Governing Board, Dušan Raičević, addressed the audience on behalf of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro.

He stated that it is our responsibility to provide citizens with a perspective of the modern quality of life in EU countries through actions in local communities. According to Raičević, as a result, the unanimous and continuous support from the citizens of Montenegro for the country's accession to the EU will grow even stronger.

After the opening statements, Bojan Božović, State Secretary in the Ministry of European Affairs, presented the Strategy for informing the public about the accession of Montenegro to the EU in 2023-2026, which will be the basis for implementing the Memorandum. Božović also presented a Call to municipalities to express interest in collaborating through specific projects that will contribute to better informing and involving citizens in the European integration process. The selected ideas will be financed through the EU project EU4ME within the Ministry of European Affairs.