Promoting deliberative democracy and innovative approaches to citizen participation in South-East Europe

A Regional project on “Promoting deliberative democracy and innovative approaches to citizen participation in South-East Europe” was launched on 18 April 2024 in Bar, Montenegro. It brought together local elected representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and members of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities in South-East Europe (NALAS). “This project supported by Germany focuses on democratic processes and innovation in citizen participation – a core principle of human rights and thriving democracies. It is in line with our commitment to European values and to meeting the needs and interests of citizens”, stated Bernd VÖHRINGER, Vice-President of the Congress in his opening address. Advisor to the Mayor Milada Šukalo attended a regional conference in Bar, organized by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. On that occasion, she presented the successful practice of Banja Luka - the first Citizens' Assembly in Republika Srpska, as well as tools for better cooperation between local authorities and citizens. "Banja Luka is a positive example for the entire region on how to improve cooperation between local authorities and citizens. The Citizens' Assembly is another successfully completed project, which we realized with the support of the Council of Europe. The topics we addressed within that project include youth and entrepreneurship as one of the current challenges we face," said Šukalo. She emphasized that the City of Banja Luka has several measures in place to retain young people in Banja Luka, such as scholarships and free textbooks, employment support through subsidies for entrepreneurs, free building permits, and plots for young married couples, for which the procedure is underway, as well as many other measures. "Pro-natal measures are not only those related to expanding the family. One of the most significant pro-natal measures is to retain young educated people, in whom families have invested in upbringing and education, to stay here and work and act here," Šukalo noted.