Drljević in Rožaje: Use the accession process to improve the quality of life of citizens
Representatives of local self-governments are an important part of the reform processes of the entire society and they should use the period of Montenegro's accession to the European Union to strengthen their own capacities and withdraw funds from European funds, said chief negotiator Aleksandar Drljević during his visit to the Municipality of Rožaje, which took place on February 25, 2019. years.
Drljević, together with the negotiators for chapters 19 and 27, Ljiljan Simović and Saša Radulović, visited Rožaje as part of the "European Day in Your City" project, and discussed the role of municipalities in accession negotiations and the benefits of future membership with the President of the Municipality, Ejup Nurković. , with a focus on the areas of social policy and employment and the environment and climate change. He also visited the Gymnasium "30. September" and participated in the public debate "The role of local governments in accession negotiations".
During the meeting with local self-government representatives, the chief negotiator emphasized that, in addition to the Government, which responsibly and dedicatedly leads the EU accession process, the contribution of the civil sector, the academic and business community, and, especially, local self-governments, which expect numerous obligations and opportunities, is very important. both in the accession process and after membership.
Drljević and Nurković agree that the projects implemented in the area of the Rožaj municipality are an example of how, with the support of funds from EU funds, and using one's own knowledge, experience and work, the life and work of the citizens of Rožaj can be improved.
During the public debate, Nurković emphasized that, since most of the legal acquis of the EU is applied at the local level, it is necessary to include representatives of local self-governments in the negotiation process as much as possible.
Ljiljana Simović pointed out at the debate that the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, implementing programs financed from IPA funds, is preparing to use the European Social Fund, which will fulfill the third criterion for closing Chapter 19. Social policy and employment, and after Montenegro's entry into the EU, that the fund will be available to all citizens of Montenegro.
Saša Radulović said that chapter 27 is the most important, because it protects life itself, from water to air. As he added, every step towards closing that chapter is a development opportunity.
Drljević and Nurković visited the projects that the Municipality of Rožaje implemented in the previous period: the "CRAFTSMAN" project, which is implemented as part of the Serbia-Montenegro cross-border cooperation program, and whose goal is to promote employment and labor mobility in the cross-border area by increasing the level of employability and employment opportunities for artisans, as well as the project "Development of female entrepreneurship in the municipality of Rožaje", the implementation of which contributed to the improvement of the quality of life in the municipality of Rožaje through the empowerment of women in the field of entrepreneurship and the promotion of a culture of lifelong learning.
