HERCEG NOVI – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the Embassy of the French Republic, supported by the Secretariat for Culture and Education of the Municipality Herceg Novi, organized Youth Talks in Herceg Novi on Thursday, 7 April. More than 30 young people aged between 15 and 25 took part in this event aimed at bringing youth from Montenegro closer to the founding ideas and values of the EU.
On this occasion, young people got a chance to directly address diplomats and to find out more about the European Union (EU), its values, and available opportunities that the EU is offering to young people. The meeting was attended by Ambassador of the French Republic in Montenegro Mr Christian Thimonier, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Czech Republic Ms Petra Ali Dolakova, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia Ms Goranka Krošelj, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Hungary Ms Mira Vuity, international expert of the European integration office Ms Isabelle Thomas Delic, and Program Officers at the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Ms Irena Marunović and Ms Bojana Lalatović.
In his opening remarks, Mr Thimonier underlined the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union’s priorities and that, in the upcoming period, France will aim at taking action following the recommendations made by the citizens and by launching more European youth projects. He concluded by reiterating that the youth are part of the common future in the European Union.
Ms Lalatović pointed out that the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro and the French Embassy are natural partners in the area of youth cooperation and recalled that RYCO has been recognized by the EU as an important and reliable partner in enhancing reconciliation processes through investments in youth exchange projects. So far, she singled out, RYCO has supported 110 youth exchange projects and it is estimated that around 25,000 young people from the region were beneficiaries of these programs.
During the second part of the event, the young people from the Mixed Secondary School “Ivan Goran Kovačić”, High school Kotor, Secondary School “Mladost” from Tivat and protégés of the Children’s Home “Mladost” in Bijela discussed the cornerstone values of the EU with the representatives of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Hungary. They also tackled the opportunities the EU is offering to young people from Montenegro.
In line with the priorities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, the French Embassy in Montenegro and the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro plan to organize a series of “Youth Talks” in different parts of Montenegro. The next Youth Talks will take place in Pljevlja, Berane, and Ulcinj and their main feature will be an open and interactive discussion about the EU related topics.
