“Active youth participation, cooperation among various social actors, and exchange of knowledge are key to strengthening civic awareness and accelerating Montenegro’s European integration,” it was emphasized today at the European Café, organized by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE).
This is the first in a series of four cafés to be held within the EU Compass for Youth project, with the support of the Ministry of European Affairs, aiming to bring the decision‑making process in the field of European integration closer to young people.
The event was opened by Nikola Obradović, Programme Associate at the CCE, who stated that “through these discussions, the CCE aims to contribute to a better understanding of European values, greater transparency of the negotiation process, and stronger trust between young people and institutions.”
Predrag Zenović, Montenegro’s chief negotiator with the EU, emphasized that it is important to speak about European integration from multiple perspectives, as the process encompasses the whole society. “This implies an exchange of views between the authorities, the civil sector, young people and the academic community, so that we jointly understand Montenegro’s path to EU membership,” he said, adding that the European Café comes at the right, recalling that such forums have historically served as spaces for public discourse and the development of a culture of dialogue.
“This kind of meeting with young activists, journalists, and EU policy experts, such as Professor Zenović, represents a step forward in youth participation and acquiring new knowledge. I look forward to the next European Cafés because they allow us to learn, connect, and jointly develop ideas that contribute to the work of civil society and youth initiatives,” said Matija Svorcan, participant of the event and student of the Faculty of Political Science.
For Marija Blažević, a youth activist, this format is valuable because it gives young people the space to freely ask questions and express their opinions. “We see that dialogue with decision-makers is not impossible and that our voice matters. Events like this encourage young people to think critically and to participate in processes that concern all of us,” she said.
Anja Orlandić, a student at the Faculty of Information Technologies, said this was her first meeting with CCE and that she had a very positive impression. “After the first session of the European Café I broadened my horizons and gained new knowledge. I believe that wider citizen inclusion in such formats would significantly contribute to social development and collective action,” she emphasized.
Nikola Đurašević, Programme Associate