The Joint Technical Secretariat organised a cross-border workshops for journalists within MNE-ALB Programme with the support of the Operating Structures of the Programme, Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro, Ministry of Finance of Montenegro – CFCU and State Agency of Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination of the Republic of Albania. The workshop was held on 24th June 2022 and included the visit to projects that were/are being implemented in Municipalities of Berane and Petnjica. The journalists were accompanied during the promotional event by Sanja Todorović, Head of Joint Technical Secretariat and Nikola Đonović, Project Officer of the Joint Technical Secretariat. In order to promote the results of the projects financed under the IPA II Cross-border Cooperation Programme Montenegro – Albania, the workshop was organised as a promotional tour for journalists from Montenegro that enabled them to visit projects and their achievements on the field and to discuss with projects stakeholders and final beneficiaries on the importance of this projects, cross-border cooperation and support of EU for local communities.
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-Albania, i.e. Augmenting Cooperation – From Christian Antiquities Towards Enhanced Tourism; Preserving cultural landscape of Albania and Montenegro; Tourism hubs for better tourism offer in less advantaged mountainous areas; Local cuisine as tourism offer of cross-border region; and Young Montenegrins and Albanians in Raspberry Crops.
In the Museum of Polimje, the journalists had the opportunity to visit the museum exhibition, where the artefacts form the archaeological site Donja Ržanica are exhibited. The artefacts that now became part of the permanent exhibition of the museum were excavated as part of the project Augmenting Cooperation – From Christian Antiquities Towards Enhanced Tourism. Moreover, journalists had the opportunity to hear from the director of the museum, Mrs Violeta Folić, expert archaeologist and curator of the museum, Mr Predrag Lutovac and the Mayor of Municipality of Berane Mr Vuko Todorović. The conclusions drawn from the conversation were that EU funds for the North and CBC cooperation contributes to the development of the tourism sector in the Municipality of Berane and to the valorisation of the cultural heritage in the region. After this, the participants visited the archaeological site Tumbarice in Donja Ržanica and had the opportunity to see the excavated location and remains of the Tumba City.
Following the visit of the location in Tumbarice, the journalists had also the opportunity to visit the Etno Room that was renovated as part of the project Preserving cultural landscape of Albania and Montenegro and interview the representative of the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije, Mrs Radojka Šćekić and discussed about the cultural heritage of the area and the added value it brings to rural tourism. Moreover, the importance of supporting rural families and their efforts to stay in the North of Montenegro and work in their households was underlined.
After a short break, the journey continued toward the rural household of the family Kljajić that are beneficiaries of the project Local cuisine as tourism offer of cross-border region. At their household, journalists had the opportunity to talk with the family Kljajić and discuss on challenges and benefits of rural tourism and the important role it plays for the families living in the area.
Finally, the journalists were hosted by Ziko Alilović, Secretary of the Municipality of Petnjica. With the journalists it was discussed on the importance of EU funds for the employment sector in Petnjica and the impact the project had on the beneficiaries, as 20 new raspberry plantations were created as part of the project.
After the interview, the participants visited the plantation of raspberries of one of the beneficiaries, talked about the benefits the local population has from growing raspberries, and discussed on possibilities of improving the placement of the products.
