22 April 2023
With the development of technology and media outlets youth are overexposed to information and simultaneously to opportunities, but despite its benefits, sometimes that turns into distraction for them. Evidence shows that young people who represent 21.4% of the total population, are one of the most vulnerable social groups in Montenegrin society. A large number of young people are unemployed and despite them holding university degrees they do not necessarily have the skills and competencies required for the fast-evolving labor market.
Bar was the last city in Montenegro where we stopped to promote the Youth Manifesto and youth involvement in Interreg and IPA CBC projects.
The need of youth for friendly communication channels that are accessible to them and provide them with needed feedback was voiced in all the events in the region.
Welcomed by the Bar Municipality, CDI in partnership with DG Regio, organized on 21 of April a workshop addressing the needs of youth to be actively engaged in Interreg IPA projects by promoting the Youth Manifesto to Programme authorities for a wider inclusion of youth needs and dedicated actions in their programming document and future call for proposals.
In this workshop were presented 4️ out of 10 Interreg IPA programmes in which Montenegro participates in.
Ms. Irena BOŠKOVIĆ, Head of Division for Interregional Cooperation and Macroregional Strategies, Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro, during her keynote speech pointed out that different projects focused on youth employment, tourism, environment, cultural heritage are being implemented under the territorial programmes. She invited all the participants to further present these projects to their schools and universities to see how they can be involved. Specifically, she pointed out the open call for proposals of Interreg VI-B IPA ADRION which will remain open until June 30. She also announced that the Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia – BiH – Montenegro will open the calls of the new programming period 2021-2027, in late May until late July.
The participants had the opportunity to learn more also about IPA CBC Programme Montenegro – Albania. Ms. Sanja TODOROVIC, Head of JTS, presented the priorities of the 4th Call for Proposals of the 2014-2020 period, which remains open until 15 June. What was new in this call was the subgrating opportunity which enables young and local organizations to be involved.
Ms. Slađana PEŠIĆ, National Contact Point of Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme emphasized that this program has started to implement small scale projects, which is a new modality more indicated for social partners as NGOs, associations and foundations, as it presents many simplified reporting procedures.
Ms. Ana VOJVODIĆ, a young participant, part of Student Network of Montenegro addressed the need for specific trainings, in order to increase the capacities of young NGOs, high school and academia staff to write projects and get familiar with the application procedures and to build partnerships with experienced NGOs.
The present Interreg IPA programmes authorities expressed their readiness to support interested youth NGOs by means of facilitating partnership creation, and simplification of rules, including coverage of co-financing for NGOs.
Project beneficiaries presented their projects that had involved young people, and pointed out that more needs to be done for a meaningful participation of young people and sustainability of the projects.
Mr. Gilles KITTEL, Team Leader – IPA, Enlargement Negotiations and EUSAIR, DG REGIO, European Commission, concluded the workshop by inviting youth to participate and be active in the policy making process. Among others he stated: ‘It is very good that you want to engage and participate in projects, but at the same time it is important for you to be involved in the policy making. You should be the actors of the policies that are implemented in your country’, he concluded
Consult here:
Powerpoint Presentation:
INTERREG IPA CBC Programme Montenegro – Albania
INTERREG IPA South Adriatic Programme
More information about CDI’s engagement in “Raising awareness on the Youth Manifesto in the Western Balkans” can be found here.
