IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Montenegro-Kosovo 2014-2020 The global objective of the programme is to improve the standard and quality of living of the people in the programme area through the environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic development of the region, with respect for its common cultural and natural heritage.
The Joint Technical Secretariat organised a Cross-border workshops for journalists within MNE-KOS Programme with the support of the Operating Structures of the Programme, Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro, Ministry of Finance of Montenegro – CFCU and Ministry of Local Government of Kosovo. The workshop was held on 1 July 2021 and included the visit to projects that were/are being implemented in Municipalities of Gusinje, Plav and Andrijevica. The journalists were accompanied during the promotional event by Sanja Todorović, Head of Joint Technical Secretariat, Almir Čaušević, Project Officers of the Joint Technical Secretariat and Stefan Bulatović, representative of Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro.
During the workshop, the journalist had opportunity to visit the outputs that have been achieved within the projects contracted under 1st and 2nd CfP under the IPA CBC Programme Montenegro-Kosovo, i.e. Eco and Outdoor Tourism Actions of the Balkan Alps; Accursed mountains – exquisite outdoor destination; Cross border joint initiatives for better waste management; Tourism hubs for better tourism offer in less advantaged mountainous areas; Transhumance – new tourism offer of Kosovo and Montenegro; and Culture heritage – Treasure of Cross Border Region.
In the Municipality of Gusinje the journalists had the opportunity to visit the Info Centre established within the project Culture heritage – Treasure of Cross Border Region and to obtain detailed information from project beneficiaries on the activities that have been conducted or foreseen within the project. In addition, they visited the Tourism Organisation of Gusinje were they have been informed on the implemented projects and had the possibility to see equipment and promotional materials produced within the projects Eco and Outdoor Tourism Actions of the Balkan Alps and Accursed mountains – exquisite outdoor destination.
Moreover, they had the opportunity to hear from Mayor of Municipality of Gusinje Mrs Anela Čekić and other local officials how cross-border cooperation and EU funds contributed to the development of the tourism sector in the Municipality of Gusinje and to get acquainted with new produced touristic offer “How to spent 1, 4 or 7 days in Prokletije”.
After a short break, the journey continued toward Municipality of Plav where the visit to the Recycling Yard in Plav established within the project Cross border joint initiatives for better waste management was performed. The journalist had the opportunity to talk about the recycling process which was established for the first time in North Montenegro, management of the recycling yard and other related topics with the director of Public Utility Company of Plav, Mr. Ervin Tošić. The journalists took the opportunity to obtain information on the quantity of the waste that is being recycled, methods of collection and the way of usage of the waste for selling purposes.
After Municipality of Plav, the next venue was at Municipality of Andrijevica, where the journalists were hosted by the local authorities in the building of Municipality of Andrijevica. The journalists had the opportunity to discuss on impact of the project Tourism hubs for better tourism offer in less advantaged mountainous areas with the deputy-mayor of Andrijevica Mr. Vesko Raketič, project manager of the project Mr. Miodrag Ivanović, as well as with other local stakeholders.
Once the meeting within the municipal building was finished, the journalist had the opportunity travel to Krivi do (mountain area above Andrijevica) and visit the Tourism/Mountaineer hut which was reconstructed within above mentioned project. At the venue in Krivi do, the journalists have been informed by project manager Mr. Miodrag Ivanović on the management plan of the hut, joint trails that will be established in order to connect Krivi Do tourism hut with the hut that has been established in Bjeshket e Belegut in Kosovo, as well as on capacities and the services that will be offered within the hut in Krivi Do.
Finally, the journalists were hosted by family Asanović who are the owners of the katun in Bačko Brdo and are one of the households that were the final beneficiaries of the project Transhumance – new tourism offer of Kosovo and Montenegro. At the venue in Bačko Brdo, Mr. Dalibor Šekularac from RDA – Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, as project beneficiary, provided information on the area and results that derived from the project. During the traditional lunch that was organised by household Asanović, the journalists had the opportunity to discuss and obtain more information on the project from its final beneficiaries.