19 November 2018 - On 19 November 2018, the 15th Jubilee Vienna Economic Forum – Vienna Future Dialogue 2018 under the motto "Economy meets Politics" took place under the Patronage of H.E. Mr. Sebastian Kurz, Federal Chancellor of Austria, and an official event of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković spoke during the panel in Vienna, explaining that Montenegro has ambitious plans during Austrian presidency of the Council of the European Union, and these ambitions are based on assessments from the latest EC document. 
"As you are aware, Montenegro has the ambition to make progress during the Austrian presidency. We base our optimism on the assessment from the latest EC's document on the rule of law that shows a balanced and thus realistic image of the efforts that Montenegro continuously invests in the implementation of reforms within the negotiation process. I am convinced that Austria and the countries of the European Union will objectively assess our results," Prime Minister Marković said at the Vienna Economic Forum. He also took part in meetings with the Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and EU commissioners Johannes Hahn and Mariya Gabriel.

The Prime Minister thanked Chancellor Kurz and the EU commissioners for the positive and inspiring meetings. He was pleased that he discussed the continuation of important discussions for the region with Commissioner Hahn and Commissioner Gabriel. It was important for Montenegrin representatives to hear Austria's plans during its presidency, but also to present the country’s plans and ambitions.

The host, Federal Chancellor Kurz, told at the press conference that Austria, during its presidency of the Council of the European Union, will focus on three areas: the region's path towards the European Union, the necessary regional cooperation and the resolution of bilateral disputes in the region. Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn emphasised that all Western Balkan countries have a European perspective, although it is not realistic that they all join the Union at the same time. 

Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel told Western Balkan leaders that they can count on the EU support and that the EC will continue to invest in talented people in the region. "Digital agenda for the Western Balkans is our objective. It is up to us to continue this process," Commissioner Gabriel noted during the economic forum in Vienna.

The prime ministers of the six Western Balkan countries assessed as particularly important the fact that Austria insists on the enlargement agenda.

Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić thanked the host, Chancellor Kurz, for working on the more integrated region and keeping the EU's policy of enlargement on the European agenda. "Serbia is strongly committed to the EU agenda. On the regional level, the connectivity agenda is a priority for Serbia," Prime Minister Brnabić said. 

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić said that strengthening of the cooperation with the EU contributes to the further development of the Western Balkans. He especially emphasised the importance of the fact that the EU's door remains open. 

Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama said that the region is facing challenges of the cooperation, while Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said that his country has fulfilled all conditions for visa liberalization, including the last condition – border demarcation with Montenegro. 

November 19, 2018 - Organized by the Secretariat for Culture and Social Activities, the Secretariat for Youth, Sports and Social Affairs and other institutions and organizations of the Municipality of Tivat, within the event "November Days", from Monday to Saturday, 24 November, will see 20 events including exhibitions, concerts , sports and tourist manifestations.

The program entitled "Radovići to Their City" starts on Monday at 11 am in the Cultural Center "Uroš Rautović" in Radovići.

The annual award ceremony for the most successful athletes is planned on Tuesday at 11 am in the Multimedia hall of Tivat Municipality. The exhibition "Tivat in the Great War" is scheduled for 19 am, and will be set up in the newly renovated DTV Partizan hall.

On Wednesday, 21 November, a series of events will mark Tivat Day. At 8am there will be a Race of Peace from the church of St. Roko in Donja Lastvi to the Monument to the Dead of Warriors. A half an hour later the run of the students of the "Drago Milović" Primary School begins. Tivat's Delegation and the Association of Fighters of the National Liberation War at 9 am plan the visit to the Monument to the Dead of Warriors.

Following is the traditional ceremony of handing over the city flag of the Boka Navy in front of the Tivat Municipal Building and the festive defiance of the Boka Navy and City Music in the streets of the city to the Pine promenade. The Tivat Order of the Boka Navy will submit a report to the President of the Municipality of Tivat on Pine, followed by the performance of the St. Tripun round dance. In addition to the Music Education Society Tivat (City Music) and the Boka Navy, the program at Pine will also include local dance and folklore groups. Following will be the Festive Tivat's Municipal Assembly's Session, and after that, from 12 am to 14 pm, the Secretariat for Culture and Social Activities and the Tivat Tourism Organization will organize a manifestation "To the Town for Its Birthday" at the Magnolia Square.

A new fire truck worth 60,000 euros will be delivered to the Rescue Service on Thursday at 10 am. The evening part of the program will be performed by the Middle Music School. They will hold a concert at 8 pm in DTV Partizan hall.

The children's parliament will sit in the Multimedia hall on Friday at 10 am. At 7 pm the students of the Middle Music School in the school Concert hall will present the concert "She lives to be heard", while in 8pm fashion fans can watch the show by Radojka Tepavac and the photo exhibition by Mihael Đuričić in DTV Partizan.

The event “November Days” is traditionally joined by the Sailing Club Delfin which is organizing the "Tivat Day" regatta. The regatta will be held on Saturday, 24 November at 10 am. Unlike earlier events on the occasion of the Municipality Day, this year, apart from the small regatta boards, Delfin organizes competition of team sailing ships. Follows the concert of Klapa Jadran at the Great Hall of Culture Center of Tivat, scheduled for Saturday, 24 November at 8pm. By this concert Klapa Jadran will mark the 45th anniversary.

November 19, 2018 - At the Institute for Marine Biology in Kotor, today, starting at 10am, a workshop will be held on "Habitat" and "Marine and Coastal Protection in Montenegro".

Within the project "Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center of the Sea Aquarium - MonteAqua" (in cooperation with the NGO MedCem), a workshop will be held on the topic "Habitat" and "Protection of the marine and coastal areas in Montenegro ".

The project realized by the Institute of Marine Biology from Kotor in cooperation with the Center for Fisheries and the Biodiversity Protection of the Groundwater of the Institute of Biology and Ecology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Kragujevac was facilitated by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs represented by the Norwegian embassy in Belgrade.

The theme of the workshop is based on EU Directive 92/43 / EEC (Habitats Directive), whose provisions relate to measures to preserve and restore habitats and animal and plant species of common interest, taking into account economic, social and the cultural requirements and the regional and local characteristics of the area. Member States participate in the realization of Nature 2000 (Special Protection Sector Network) and are obliged to designate sites of special protection areas on their territory, to maintain them, and where appropriate to development, creates a landscape that is of great importance to wild fauna and flora.

As part of the theme, the lecturers will present the activities that are related to the topic at both administrative and practical level and to familiarize the participants with further plans in this area, while visiting lecturers will bring closer the way of law enforcement and implementation of the directive in neighboring areas.

The habitats have become increasingly fragmented because of the increasing pressure under them, leading to a reduction in the number of species, their shedding, as well as the value of goods and services provided by our natural goods. The need to implement laws to improve the overall status of nature is one of the objectives of the project "Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center of the Sea Aquarium - MonteAqua".

18 November 2018 - The Montenegrin Chamber of Economy is organizing a presentation of Montenegrin businessmen within the national stand of Montenegro at the forthcoming 25th International Fair 2018 by Klik Ekspo, which will be held in Tirana, Albania, from November 21st to 24th, 2018.

At the International Tirana Klik Ekspo 2018 Fair, Montenegrin producers will present their production programs at the national stand of Montenegro, in the Palace of Congress, on the stand of 40 square meters. The participation in the international fair allows exhibitors and businessmen to present their products and place them on new markets, as well as to promote the existing ones and acquire new business contacts and businessmen cooperation.

Klik Ekspo International Tirana Fair is one of the largest international fairs of entrepreneurship in the region, which takes place every year in Tirana, within 8,000 square meters of exhibition space. In 2017, over 380 direct exhibitors and organizations from around 25 countries exhibited at the fair. At the Tirana International Fair, international and national enterprises present their latest techniques, innovations and services in the areas of trade and commerce. This exhibition gathers exhibitors from engineering and construction materials industry, energy sector, agriculture, IT sectors, catering services, car materials, food products, furniture industry, metal processing machines, textile industry and many others.

Participation at the stand includes the provided equipped space for exhibiting promotional materials and samples that will enable companies to present themselves to other participants and visitors to the Fair. The cost of renting the booth will be borne by the Chamber of Economy.

If you have an interest in joining the Montenegrin delegation that will participate in the Tirana International Fair, please register your participation no later than Friday, November 19, 2018.

Read more information about Chamber of Economy of Montenegro and 25th Tirana International Fair here.

18 November 2018 - The Montagna Travel Montenegro, a tourist agency from Nikšić, is organizing a climb to the First Via Ferrata in Montenegro, located in Kotor at the very exit of the Škurde canyon, on the occasion of the Day of Liberation of Kotor - November 21st.

The number of seats is limited to 50 participants who do not own their equipment for the Via Ferrata. Climbers with their own equipment, who want to participate in the celebration of this day significant for the city of Kotor, can also take part in the event. When applying, it is of great importance to inform the organizers whether you possess the necessary equipment.

Via Ferrata is a secured hiking trail that crosses inaccessible parts of mountain massifs with the help of cables and metal threads. Ferrata is suitable not only for professional alpinists but also for people with average physical fitness that are not engaged in active hiking and sports. Climbers can experience a real feeling of alpine climbing, which is completely safe. No advanced skills nor knowledge is required for using Via Ferrata.

Via Ferrata is located on the very outskirts of the Škurda canyon and at the entrance to the Old town of Kotor. It starts at 80 meters above sea level and ends at 205 m above sea level. Along Via Ferrata, there are two ‘take a break’ benches, which offer an attractive view of the Bay of Kotor, as well as the San Giovanni Fortress and the Old road that connected Montenegro of Old with the Bay of Kotor. Via Ferrata is available year-round and ideal for the tourist season, as it presents a challenge for tourists as well as training for mountaineers. It is also available for all ages.

Each participant is provided with alpine equipment - cable and ropes. All participants receive complete alpine and protective equipment (helmet, belt and ferrata system, which includes 2 carabineers, belt connector and safety system). All participants are tracked by the organizers’ experienced guides who are also mountain rescuers.

Each participant is provided by Montagna Travel Montenegro with safety alpine equipment, but it is important to bring your own shoes.

The gathering at Via Ferrate (80m from the waterfront building, towards the Škurde canyon) is planned for 11.00 - 12.00 hours.

Interested parties can apply to the organizers’ Facebook Page and to their e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as well as on phone numbers: +382 67 888 887; +382 67 511364.

The organizers invite all interested parties to join them and celebrate the day of liberation of the city of Kotor together. Participation is free for all participants!

18 November 2018 - Montenegro must not slow down its progress on its road to the European Union and it should be focused primarily on closing the chapters. It would be desirable to open Chapter 27 during Austria’s European Union presidency and for the country to complete the Action Plan for Chapters 23 and 24, as noted by the Ambassador of Slovenia to Montenegro, Mitja Močnik. He also said Montenegro has been an example of good practice to other countries of Balkans region.

Slovenia and Montenegro cherish good relations and based on the positive experience and practice in project implementation, Slovenia perceives Montenegro as a priority programme for European Union integration in the region.

“The two states have been implementing a programme-based bilateral development cooperation, mostly for a two-year period of time. The 2018-19 programme is going to be signed on November 23, 2018. The total value of the project amounts to 1,848,949 EUR. Development projects usually refer to the less developed North Montenegro. Slovenia has been offering assistance to Montenegro for this year as well, also through a technical assistance, funded by the European Union’s instrument for pre-accession assistance. Our experts are mostly engaged in Montenegro when compared with other countries of the region,” noted Ambassador of Slovenia to Montenegro Mitja Močnik.

According to him, Montenegro should focus on closing the negotiation chapters, but also added that Montenegro represents a source of stability in the region.

“Some European Union member states are not inclined to speedy opening/closing of the chapters, which does not mean they oppose the enlargement process. Montenegro is a leader in negotiation talks, having in mind dynamics and the number of opened chapters. We must beware of the fact Montenegro restored the independence in 2006 and that it is extremely significant to achieve genuine progress in strengthening macroeconomic, fiscal and tax stability,” Močnik concluded.

18 November 2018 - Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić and Director of the Police Directorate Veselin Veljović on the occasion of the eve of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, visited the road traffic checkpoints and noted that the violation of the traffic regulations will be vigorously punished. The state is determined to put an end to the wild driving on the Montenegrin roads. 

"We are here today to support traffic officers who have a hard and responsible job and who care about the lives of drivers. More than a million people are killed every year on the roads in the world. Unfortunately, people are killed on our roads too. The fact is that from year to year this number is decreasing, but every human life is precious and we have to take care of it. Day of Remembrance should remind us to drive slower, to respect traffic signs, not to talk on a mobile phone while driving and to respect speed limits. In this way, we will show concern for our lives, but also for the lives of others," Minister Nuhodžić said. 

The Minister announced rigorous controls of the drivers without any exceptions. 

"They will not be untouchable during traffic control. They will not be excluded and untouchable in the application of legal regulations. We will put an end to the wild driving on the Montenegrin roads, which irresponsibly takes the lives of others! The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Directorate will work with full vigor to make such things happen as little as possible," the Minister stressed.

At the checkpoints, the non-governmental organisation Alfa Centre shared informative material in order to motivate the participants in the traffic to reduce speed and not to use mobile phones while driving. 

Executive Director of the Alfa Centre Aleksandar Šime Dedović and Head of the Security Centre Podgorica Milovan Pavićević also visited the checkpoints. Dedović reminded that this NGO has been conducting awareness-raising campaigns for all aspects of traffic safety for the seventh year. 

Both the Minister and the Director of the Alfa Centre called on the representatives of the wider community to engage in the process of education and motivation of the participants in the traffic so that everyone is safer and to reduce the number of road traffic victims. 

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year. In 2005 the United Nations General Assembly invited all nations to observe the day as the appropriate acknowledgment of victims of road traffic accidents and raising awareness of traffic safety. 

18 November 2018 - Health minister Kenan Hrapović told Pobjeda daily his ministry has been preparing a document seeking for a way of directing a specific amount of money collected from Tobacco excise taxes to the fund for treatment of rare diseases and expensive medicines.

We might expect the opening of the first bank account during next year already, according to minister Hrapović.

He said: “The Ministry of Health, as well as the Ministry of Finance, discussed this issue in the govt. for several times, in order to find a model for transiting specific amount of money collected from tobacco excises to the fund for the cure of rare diseases and expensive medicines. I think we are progressing well and next year we are to open a specific bank account for these purposes. We shall see how it’s going to work, as not everything depends on the Ministry of Health.”

Text by CdM, on November 18th, 2018, read more at CdM.

17 November 2018 - The tourist organization of Budva represents the tourist offer of the Budva Riviera and Montenegro at the 22nd Fair of Tourism and Catering, called "Autumn Fair", which is being held from 15-18 November in Banja Luka.

In addition to the Tourism Organization of Budva as the carrier of the Montenegrin offer, the country's tourist offer is also presented by the local tourist organizations of Kotor, Tivat, and Herceg Novi.

The interest of Banja Luka for the tourist offer of Montenegro is traditionally high, while a considerable number of media companies are interested in the tourist offer Montenegro present.

Assistant Director of Tourist Organization of Budva, Vukoslav Rucović, met with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Government of the Republika Srpska Stevo Mirjanić, and on that occasion discussed future cooperation in the field of tourism.

The number of guests from the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina is growing every year along the Budva Riviera, which is confirmed by the statistics. This year, for the January-November period, 37.566 guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina stayed on the Budva Riviera with total of 277.108 overnight stays, while in 2018 as total, this number was increased to 44.435 guests, or 316.076 overnight stays, which represents an increase of 18% compared to the same period of the previous year.

By direct communication with the visitors of the stand, representatives of local tourist organizations had the opportunity to promote both the tourist offer for the next season and the New Year's programmes. Tourist Organization of Budva took the opportunity and invited potential guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina to spend their first days of 2019 in Budva. Under the slogan "See you in Budva! Twentieth time!" with a rich and various programme, Budva will mark 20 years in a series of organized New Year's programmes on the square in front of the Old Town in Budva.

There are about 150 exhibitors at 60 booths at the fair in Banja Luka.

17 November 2018 - In the organization of NLP Network, an informative lecture "Why is it good to know NLP?" Was held last night at the Cultural Center "Nikola Đurković" in Kotor. More than 50 people from various industries, from the private and public sector, entrepreneurs, sales staff, marketing, health, and education workers, showed an interest in learning this course. This methodology primarily focuses on methods of neuro-linguistic programming.

Participants were introduced to NLP methodology by Danko Ćetković and Aleksandra Anđelić, the founders of NLP Network, who also presented NLP education, as well as a special way of working, characterized by their trainers. The lecture was interactive, the participants presented their experiences, asked questions related to the application of this methodology in business or private life. The interest in this form of education shows that students recognize the importance of this kind of non-formal education.

"On the one hand, more and more people have the need and desire to work on themselves, to learn new things, to improve their skills, but today's business environment, which is becoming increasingly demanding, requires it from us. The highest quality formal education is no longer required. All that matters is whether you are good or not in your job and the way how you build interpersonal relationships, how you communicate with your clients, colleagues, how you work in the team, how quickly you are adjusting to more and more frequent changes, how you amortize stressful situations, as well as how you plan and manage your work tasks, but also your career," as noted by the representatives of NLP Network.

"Also, we are all more and more seriously disturbed the balance between business and private life, and for that reason, we feel dissatisfaction, constant stress, worry, nervousness and so on. All of this, in the end, leads us to, in spite of the increased effort, to miss the desired results and not to realize all that we can for what we have potential. These are some of the reasons why it is necessary to work on improving the communication skills, flexibility, goal setting, as well as reconsidering their beliefs that can be supportive or even limiting to achieve the desired results, in which NLP can greatly help us with its methods," concluded members of NLP Network during their lecture about methods of neuro-linguistic programming.

Until now, NLP education was conducted only in Podgorica, however, due to the interest shown after the Info Lectures, for the first time in Kotor NLP Basic is being organized - a two-day training programme which will take place during December 8-9. Information and applications can be found here, and you can also follow NLP Network on their Facebook Page.