Ambassador Oana Cristina Popa, the Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, visited the municipality of Tivat, where she met with representatives of the local government and EU project beneficiaries from that town. As the focus of the visit was the environmental sustainability of Tivat and Montenegro, Ms Popa pointed out that further investment in green solutions, with the support of the EU and civil society, will help Tivat attract more tourists and become an example of a green and sustainable municipality, not only in Montenegro, but also in the region and beyond.
“The EU has donated more than €2 million for projects in Tivat, which are mainly aimed at environmental protection, sustainable development and tourism. I learned more from the local authorities about how these projects bring benefits to the local population,“ said Ms Popa.
Together with Željko Komnenović, the mayor of the municipality of Tivat, Ambassador Popa paid a visit to Tivat Salina, where a new visitor centre will be built thanks to European funds. The EU’s investments in the Salina have already helped preserve this nature reserve and develop their tourist offer, as well as protect migratory birds. Ms Popa also visited Župa sports hall, where state-of-the-art solar collectors funded by the EU provide domestic hot water heating.
“The EU has also financed other green investments in the town, such as the installation of a new public lighting system, with about 600 LED lights that save energy and reduce costs. We have funded numerous green solutions so as to make the town cleaner and more accessible for citizens and tourists, promoting the Green Agenda in Tivat and Montenegro,“ said the EU Ambassador to Montenegro.
In the same environmental spirit, the Ambassador will open the second evening of the International Fashion Festival Porto Montenegro 2021 (IFF) – Green Edition on Saturday. The EU is supporting this festival for the first time in order to send a message that, especially after the pandemic, we need to rethink the principles of the fashion and textile industries, which are major polluters. Ms Popa invited the citizens of Tivat and their guests to join her tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. on the waterfront and watch the premiere of the fashion collection by Montenegrin designer Aleksandra Đaković, who promotes sustainable fashion and uses biodegradable materials.