PODGORICA – Regional Youth Cooperation Office is an excellent mechanism for youth networking in the Western Balkans in order to foster their cooperation, but also to strengthen youth policies on the national level, it was concluded at the meeting between RYCO Secretary General Mr Đuro Blanuša, Montenegrin Minister of European Affairs Mr Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, and RYCO Local Branch Officer in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović, which was held on Tuesday in Podgorica.
Mr Blanuša thanked the Montenegrin authorities as well as CSOs on their openness and contributions in the establishing process of RYCO, as well as their support to the initiatives and projects which contribute to inclusion of youth into processes which are of importance for them. He stressed that Montenegro is the first RYCO Contracting Party which has fulfilled all the obligations when it comes to the institutionalisation of RYCO which is also support to the overall idea of youth cooperation in the Western Balkans.
Mr Pejović said that the Government of Montenegro is dedicated to improvement of youth policies in the country and that the Ministry of European Affairs is always available for all initiatives which are directed to the intensification of cooperation and strengthening of the position of youth in the region. He highlighted that the establishment of RYCO is a contribution of the Berlin Process to the accession of the Western Balkans to the EU. He stressed the importance of the IPA support and the need of using the available funds for creating smart platforms and designing good projects which will boost good ideas and support youth participation in the Montenegrin society.
Mr Koljenović said that RYCO received 421 applications during the first Open Call for Project Proposals, of which 33 are from Montenegro. He highlighted the fact that the big interest of the Montenegrin high schools for participation in projects of youth mobility in the Western Balkans was shown during the info sessions which were held across Montenegro.
Photo: Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro