On July 17th, the launching conference of the joint CoE/EU ROMACTED programme on “Promoting Good Governance and Roma Empowerment at Local Level” will take place in Podgorica.
Opening speeches will be delivered by Mr Leon GJOKAJ, the Director General of the Directorate for the Protection of Minorities within the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, Mr Hermann SPITZ, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation in Montenegro and Mr Marcos ANDRADE, ROMACTED Program Manager.
Immediately after the opening speeches, Memorandums of understanding will be signed by the Council of Europe, the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro and the following representatives of eight municipalities in which ROMACTED will be implemented in next two years: Ms Sanela LIČINA, Deputy Mayor of Bar, Mr Dragoslav ŠCEKIĆ, Mayor of Berane, Mr Petar SMOLOVIĆ, Mayor of Bijelo Polje, Ms Sonja NIKČEVIĆ, Deputy Mayor of Niksić , Representative of Capital Podgorica , Mr Stevan KATIĆ, Mayor of Herceg Novi, Mr Sinisa KUSOVAC, Mayor of Tivat a.i. and Mr Ljoro NREKIC, Mayor of Ulcinj.
The launching conference will start at 10:00 am on 17 July 2018, at the Hotel Centre Ville (Capital Plaza) in Podgorica. The meeting will be in English and Montenegrin with simultaneous interpretation. Media are invited to cover the whole event. Individual interviews can be arranged during the coffee break, between 11:45 and 12:15. Contact for media requests: Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica, Ms Sanja Elezovic, [email protected]
Background Information:
The joint Programme between the European Commission (DG NEAR) and the Council of Europe ROMACTED is a regional programme implemented in Western Balkans and Turkey since May 2017. The Programme in Montenegro will be implemented over next two years.
The aims of the ROMACTED Programme are to:
- build up political will and engagement of local authorities in order to enhance democratic local governance, to increase capacity and stimulate the empowerment of local Roma communities to contribute to the design, implementation and monitoring of plans and projects concerning them;
- empower the Roma community at the individual level (assisting people to practise their basic rights and to expand their capacity and skills), as well as at the community level (assisting people to get organised to voice their interests around community problem-solving);
- improve and expand the institutions' commitment, capacities, knowledge and skills in working for Roma inclusion, putting into practice the concepts of good governance.
More information could be found at: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/web/roma-local-governance
